Guided by Vision 2040, a community-driven strategic plan, the city of Coppell’s budgeting process prioritizes collaboration, transparency and alignment with residents’ needs.

The city’s five-year forecast is a cornerstone of its financial planning. This document not only outlines projected revenues and expenditures, but also serves as a living blueprint, updated annually to reflect the community’s evolving priorities.

“It's not just one group or one department,” Budget Officer Jesica Almendarez said. “It really is a city-wide process, and it starts off with the end in mind, which is our Vision 2040 strategic plan.”

The budgeting process involves citywide participation, beginning with a kickoff in October. City staff from all departments submit requests and projections, followed by a collaborative retreat in January. This retreat, described as the heart of the process, allows departments to prioritize projects and discuss citywide needs.

“That retreat is my favorite part of the process,” Almendarez said. “ It's a beautiful thing, seeing that everybody thinks of the city holistically and not just in a silo. It’s not just what's better for my department, it's what's best for the city and for the community as a whole. That's really my favorite part of the process, seeing how our culture is really lived out by people coming up with win-win situations.”

This culture of collaboration sets Coppell apart from many municipalities. Instead of isolated decision-making, representatives from each department engage in open dialogue to balance priorities.

Once the retreat concludes, a concise list of projects and priorities is presented to the City Manager’s Office and then to City Council. The council then reviews the proposals, provides feedback and ensures alignment with community needs before the budget is finalized in late summer.

Coppell’s commitment to transparency extends beyond internal processes. The city hosts a town hall meeting and numerous budget workshops to engage residents directly, presenting key projects and gathering public input. This open dialogue ensures that community voices remain integral to financial planning.

“Financial transparency creates that trust between the community and city staff,” Almendarez said. “For us, it's important that we're really effective financial stewards, and part of that is maintaining transparency. We make sure we keep the community aware via our budget workshops, town hall and our transparency page.”

Additionally, the city’s Community Information Office regularly shares information regarding city finances.

Looking ahead, the 2025 budget focuses heavily on infrastructure and maintenance, reflecting resident feedback and long-term goals. Key initiatives include facility upgrades and traffic improvements, which were identified as critical needs during the five-year forecast process. These investments underscore Coppell’s proactive approach to addressing community concerns.

“It's not just a financial document, it's something that communicates the needs of our community,” Almendarez said.

By grounding its financial decisions in community-driven priorities, the city ensures that every dollar spent serves its residents effectively, fostering trust and accountability.

To find out more about the city of Coppell’s budget and its dedication to being good stewards of

taxpayer money, visit https://www.coppelltx.gov/226/Budget.

The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.