2024 - '25 Proposed Budget Highlights

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Fiscal Year 2024-2025

(Reflects operating and capital expenditure budgets combined excluding transfers)

Completion of impact fee studies and user rate studies
Development of a strategy to improve health care and wellness services through better insurance coverage options, use of a health care stipend to offset expenses for employees, elimination of waste and realized cost saving, improvements to retiree insurance, and in
stitution of a wellness program
Development of a Bright Ideas program to spur innovation in the organization
Institution of an organization-wide employee advisory committee
Kick-off of diversity, equity and inclusion training
Completion of the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA)
procurement process and the selection of 17 vendors providing construction and engineering services for the city
Nearing completion of the Bartow Sports Complex softball fields Capital Improvement project
Completion of 20 projects within the $3.3 million worth of Parks & Recreation improvements approved in FY 2023 -'24
Implementation of an Intranet for employee communication and information sharing
Development of a new purchasing manual
Implementation of the NAPA IBS best practice program that will increase produ
ctivity, decrease costs and outsource our inventory function in Fleet
Completion of the Sanitary Sewer Inspection program to robotically inspect and clean wastewater pipes throughout the city
Implement a fine free library
Purchase of a robotic ball picker and turf tank for Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts

Key Budget Priorities

Maintaining and enhancing our infrastructure and facilities
Creating cleaner, safer neighborhoods
Becoming an employer of choice
Maximizing the use of technology
Collaborating with key partners to spur a sense of vitality in our community
Investing in community not for profits to improve the human social condition for all citizens

Key Budget Highlights

Reflects a balanced approach that sets the stage for us as responsible fiscal stewards of City resources with a Proposed Budget of $105,126,397 for all expenditures excluding transfers and reflects the operating and capital budgets combined
Proposed millage rate remains at 6.1080
17.79% increase in Ad Valorem taxes based on increases in property values
and new growth
added to the tax rolls.
Updated Fire Assessment and Stormwater Assessment
Incorporation of updated impact fees:
- Municipal Impact fees:
  - Police
  - Fire
  - Public Facilities
  - Parks
- Water and Wastewater Development Fees
- Transportation Impact Fees
Inclusion of updated enterprise fund rates:
- Stormwater
- Solid Waste
- Parks
Continuation of the Capital Improvement Plan spend down of $15.5 million of unrestricted cash reserves for the Pool and Aquatics Program, a co-located Fire Substation, Public Works Facilities and $3.3 million in Parks Facility Improvements
Non-profit organization funding as directed by the Commission
A number of key technology and innovation efforts to help invest in progress for the future

Investing in Our Workforce

The Proposed Budget includes a 2.5% step increase in wages for personnel
Incorporation of a $3,000 per year health care stipend for all full time employees to offset medical expenses in 5 categories including dependent coverage
Presently there is a 15.9% vacancy rate in city positions
Total FTE count incorporated in the FY2024-2025 Proposed Budget is 328 which is a 5.1% increase over FY 2023-2024
16 new staff positions including:
- 6 General Fund Employees
- 5 Electric Utility Employees
- 3 Fire Service Employees
- 1 Stormwater Employee
- 1 Position split among multiple funds
- 1 Position split among multiple funds
Funding for City Manager priorities at $95,000
- Educational assistance citywide for job or promotional related courses
- Mentor and coaching workshops for existing leaders in city government
- Polk State College Leadership Development Program
- Employee Recognition and Appreciation
- Diversity and Inclusivity Training
- Develop signing bonus policy for hard to fill positions

Investing in Capital Improvements

Planned spend down strategy to utilize General Fund cash reserves to address the most critical capital projects to be incorporated in the Tentative Budget in September 2024 :
- Address infrastructure that is failing or poses a safety risk at our Parks and Recreation facilities |$3.3 Million
- Construction of a municipal pool and aquatics program | $3.2 Million
- Public Works Facilities Renovation | $2.5 Million
- Addition of a joint Fire Services substation with Polk County in North Bartow toimprove fire response times across the city | $6.2 Million

Community Growth and Investment

436 new homes expected in 2024 which is a 27.3% increase over 2023
2,434 total permits issued thus far in FY2023-2024 which is decrease over last year of 19.9% with a total of 2,753 projected through the end of the fiscal year
Funding for our Community Partners and non profit organizations of $309,100 including the Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Mainstreet Bartow, Bartow Economic Development Council and the Historic LB Brown House Museum

Website preview Technology and Innovation Efforts

Key technology implementations: in process on Work Order/Asset Management System, planning for the implementation of online Building and Code Enforcement Software, applicant tracking system for recruitment efforts, citizen complaint tracking, launch of a new cityofbartow.net web site

Technology Innovation Fund: used to invest in technology innovation that will improve collaboration, efficiency and effectiveness
Updated cybersecurity measures
Implementation of electronic data logs using GPS for City of Bartow fleet to better assess vehicle information from the field
New technology in the Electric Department, online energy audits in electric for our customers, automated meter infrastructure, interactive voice response
Wifi expansion for Civic Center and Nye Jordan park
Prioritizing Sanitary Sewer Inspection data to determine infrastructure repairs and replacement
Implementation of a lease program for golf carts to include PACE technology
Vehicle and route optimization software in Solid Waste to define the best routes possible for service delivery
Fiber optic master plan funded at $200,000 to assess smart city objectives such as wifi and fiber delivery
Online improvements to customer service utility billing
Improved audio in Commission Chambers to include a new sound board, speaker repair and microphones