FY2017 PROPOSED BUDGET

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget
Appendix C
Budget Development and Departmental Submissions
Metro began the process of developing the FY2017 proposed budget shortly after the adoption of
the FY2016 approved budget. As part of the budget development process, the FY2015 Actuals
with specific programmatic changes was used as the FY2017 baseline for budgeted non-personnel
related costs. Additionally, the FY2016 Approved budget (and the FY2015 Actuals) were analyzed
and certain identified assumptions were modified. Some of those assumptions were fuel prices,
contractually obligated union wages and benefits, and fare revenues. Based on the analysis of the
aforementioned data, Metro assigned targets to each department. Simultaneously, Metro pursued
additional Federal, state and local revenue and grants.
The FY2017 proposed budget was balanced through a combination of expense efficiencies,
including preventive maintenance and overhaul utilization through the CIP, offset by realignment
of revenue based on projected ridership. Below are additional assumptions that were incorporated
into the development of the FY2017 proposed budget.
• Using the Strategic Plan (the “Plan”) framework, the General Manager/CEO’s Business
Plan guides both Operating and Capital budget development processes. It identifies
priorities for Metro, provides the foundation for department-specific work plans and keeps
the agency focused on the long term goals as outlined in the Strategic Plan.
• The CEO’s Business Plan outlines necessary actions to achieve priorities; provides
measures to monitor success, and provides the Board and public with a transparent and
accountable framework.
• The priorities are reflected in the proposed FY2017 Budget and multi-year operating and
capital investment plans.
• The Office of Management and Budget Services (OMBS) staff develops guidelines and
assumptions in line with the General Manager’s business plan that drive the budget
planning process. These guidelines and assumptions are then passed along and
incorporated into the department budgets.
• The initial planning, development of assumptions, preparation of instructions and training
materials are created in August.
• The annual budget kickoff meeting is held in September with all department leaders and
budget preparers. New budget initiative requests are developed at this time.
• The department operating and capital budget requests are developed, reviewed, and
approved (at the department level) and submitted to OMBS by mid-October.
Budget Review and Proposal
• The proposed CIP was developed concurrently with the proposed operating budget. OMBS
and the AGM-TIES meet with every project manager to review the capital forecasts and
requests. Recommendations for the update to the CIP were reviewed with executive
management in November 2015.
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