Minutes - Council - 11/29/1995 - Budget Public Hearing

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BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA The Ramsey City Council conducted a Budget Public Hearing on Wednesday, November 29, 1995, at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard NW, Ramsey, Minnesota. Members Present: Mayor Glen Hardin Councilmember Sheila Beyer Councilmember Kenneth Peterson Councilmember Gerald Zimmerman Members Absent: Councilmember Carolyn Beahen Also Present: City Administrator Ryan Schroeder Finance Officer Jessie Hart CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hardin called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Finance Officer Hart stated that the 1996 proposed General Fund Budget was prepared on the basis that the maximum proposed tax levy would be utilized as adopted on September 12, 1995. In preparing the 1996 proposed General Fund Budget, the following objectives were established: a) recognize the limitations placed on City activities resulting from limited revenue growth; b) maintain or increase the existing level of City services and programs; e) increase the tax capacity rate to a level adequate to provide for ongoing services and programs while continuing taxing levels comparable to or below that of surrounding communities; d) position the City financially such that stable revenues are identified for current and future capital programming and equipment replacement; and e) avoid deferring costs to future years. The proposed budget totals $3,513,068 with a proposed tax levy of $1,387,908. When combined with the debt service levy and the Rum River Drainage District levy, the taxes proposed for collection in 1996 total $1,425,688 and equate to a tax capacity rate of approximately 20.222, compared to 19.551 for payable 1995 taxes. Ms. Hart continued that the total dollar increase in taxes proposed is $244,098 of which $152,723 is generated by the increase in the tax base. The levy request includes an additional $63,327 generated by budgetary needs, including the addition of one full-time maintenance worker, a part-time secretary and an addition of an interfund loan payment on a new Police facility in 1996. Also included in the maximum levy is a special levy for the Rum River Drainage District. Various expenditure delays and reductions in certain areas were recommended by staff, to meet a balanced budget at this level of taxes. Ms. Hart gave a brief history of the budget process and how the money is split up, what portion goes to the City, etc. She explained how taxes are calculated plus gave some historical information pertaining to State Aid the City has received since 1989 and what's anticipated for 1996. Ms. Hart touched on employee equivalents - FTE per capita is about 2.627 per 1,000. Mayor Hardin opened the public hearing for comments at 7:17 p.m. Pat Rosen, 17650 Argon Street NW, Ramsey, commented on the hiring of another maintenance worker. He stated that he watched a sand truck come through one day and a Budget Public Hearing/City Council/November 29, 1995 Page 1 of 4