CAFR 2017

The budget serves as the foundation for the City’s financial planning and control. Annually, the City Manager presents a proposed budget to Council for review as well as to the citizens of Greensboro for questions and/or concerns. North Carolina General Statutes require all governmental units to adopt a balanced budget by July 1 of each year for all funds for which a budget is required. Activities of the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds (except for Grant Project Funds), Debt Service Fund, and Proprietary Funds are included in the annual appropriated budget. Project-length financial plans are adopted for Grant and Capital Projects Funds. The City Manager may make transfers of appropriations within funds and department heads may make transfers of appropriations within a department. Transfers of appropriations between funds, however, require approval by the City Council. Budget- to-actual comparisons are provided in this report for each individual governmental fund for which an appropriated annual budget has been adopted. Budgetary control is facilitated by the use of a personnel/payroll data system that requires every position, including applicable fringe benefits, be budgeted. Also, the North Carolina General Statutes require an encumbrance system and a finance officer’s “preaudit” certification that budgeted funds are available prior to the placement of all purchase orders, contracts and electronic payments. Outstanding purchase orders and contracts are reported as a restriction of fund balance at June 30, 2017 in the category “Stabilization by State Statute.” The appropriated budget is prepared by fund, function (e.g., public safety), and department (e.g., police). A budgetary comparison for the General Fund is presented beginning on page 12 as part of the Basic Financial Statements. Detailed budget to actual comparisons for other funds with annual and project-length budgets are presented in the supplementary information subsection of this report, which starts on page 69. COUNCIL BUDGET PRIORITIES Four strategic goals are the primary focus of funding within the City’s budget:  Economic Development and Job Creation – The City’s approach to economic development focuses on promoting job creation, facilitating private business and expansion, utilizing community development grants, bonds and other resources to advance economic development and infrastructure development, and providing enhanced access to City contracting opportunities. The Economic Development Fund is supported by a one-half cent property tax levy that generates approximately $1.3 million per year. Since FY 14-15, the City revised its Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise (MWBE) program with a new coordinator and staff, advancing goals of promoting an inclusive bidding process. A disparity study update was initiated to assess the effectiveness of efforts to achieve MWBE goals. The Study will be completed in FY17-18 with recommendations for program improvements. Also being updated over the next two fiscal years is the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a guiding document that articulates the vision, goals and action plan for Greensboro through 2025. In November 2016, Greensboro citizens passed $126 million in general obligation bonds, $38.5 million of which are dedicated to economic development efforts for downtown streetscape improvements, continuing development for Union Square Campus, Citywide infill development and investments in east Greensboro. The FY 17-18 budgets also continues funding for the Gateway Corridor, renamed Gate City Boulevard (formerly High Point Road/West Lee Street), and the downtown greenway. The Recommended Budget also includes ongoing support for various economic development and cultural partners such as Guilford County Economic Development Alliance, Greensboro Community Development Fund, the Greensboro Partnership Launch Lab (Lab Accelerator), Triad Stage and East Greensboro NOW.  Public Safety – During FY 16-17, the Police Department expanded its focus on increasing community collaboration and partnerships to address crime trends, improve police facilities and ensure that the department remains at the forefront of innovative police initiatives. The department established the Safe City Summit, a community grass roots collaborative addressing violent crime. The Summit will continue in FY 17-18. The department combatted opioid abuse, working with Guilford County partners to provide officers with medication to reverse opioid related overdoses. Police partnered with Cone Health to provide additional mental health training for first responders to increase awareness, de-escalation and successful outcomes involving mental health crisis incidents. Police also began implementing ICAT (Integrated Communications and Tactics), a national model that provides officers with more tools, skills and options for handling critical incidents, particularly those involving persons experiencing mental illness. Police also partnered with Guilford County to fund and operate a Family Justice Center as a “one stop shop” for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and elder abuse. In addition, new Fire Station #63 will house both Fire

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