The City of Balch Springs Budget is a plan of financial operation embodying an estimate of proposed expenditures for a given period and the proposed means of financing them for a single fiscal year, October 1st through September 30. 

In early February of each year, city departments begin to prepare their operational budgets, adjusting routine operating budgets, acquiring prices for budget enhancements, and updating annual goals. The departments have a few months to prepare a first draft. The CFO and City Manager's Office then meet with all departments to discuss budget requests and clarify projections. The department are then tasked to make the necessary changes as discussed in those meetings. 

During this time, the Finance Department estimates revenues, enters budgets for debt service, personnel costs, and other costs not related to department operations. A capital budget meeting is also scheduled with all departments to begin planning for those expenditures. 

A draft of the budget is then presented to City Council during a workshop. Depending on the year and need, a few workshops may be scheduled before receiving certified values from the Dallas Central Appraisal District which is traditionally received on July 25th. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the efficiency of the appraisal district to handle property tax protests and will thereby provide certified estimated values by July 25th. This causes the city to calculate rates using the certified estimated values rather than the certified values for fiscal year 2021. The certified values will not be made available to the city until August 20th. Because the City will not have access to the certified property values, the proposed budget and tax rate will be based on the certified estimated values. 

The city will hold public hearings on the budget and the tax rate before adoption to allow residents to provide feedback.

Please click here to view the Budget and Tax Rate Calendar for Fiscal Year 2021.