Minutes - Council Work Session - 07/29/2008

Home

Mr. Fisher stated that he would continue to work with City Administrator Ulrich, Assistant City Administrator Nelson, and other City Staff. City Administrator Ulrich questioned if they would be interested in setting up a display with the model in City Hall for people to view. Marty Fisher advised that he had to coax the artist into bringing it to the Council meeting tonight. Glen Terry explained that he does not know of any other works, which combine the materials he is going to work with. He stated that the memorial may get national attention and he really does not want to unveil it to the public until it is finished. Mayor Gamec invited Glen Terry and the Ramsey Rotary to come to a future Council meeting to gain publicity for the memorial project. 2) 2009 Budget Discussion. City Administrator Ulrich advised that at the work session retreat, staff had looked at items that might have an impact on the budget. He stated that the Ramsey3 group had completed their visioning process and developed a vision for the community and values reflected by the group. He advised that some items, such as the communications and marketing position, continuing to promote the rail station, and a community center would affect the budget. He advised that the time review of the budget was on June 10th and was a rough draft, which included the initial recommendations from each department. He advised in the new version he and Finance Officer Lund reviewed every line item with each department head and reduced the first draft by $752,650. He stated that it was a lot of hard work, reanalyzing the priorities for 2009, and trying to keep expenditures as low as possible but still continue the current programming. He advised that they had cut $139,000 from capital equipment by pushing back some vehicles in public works that could wait another year. He stated that they are trying to get the most life out of the equipment that they have. Finance Officer Lund stated that she was going to review the tax capacity rate and where the budget has been in the past years. She advised that in 2009 with the general fund, EDA, and the debt service levy there would be a tax capacity of 40.54, which would be the State maximum. She advised that the amount of the levy would not come from the State until September, which would then give the City about two days to have their information submitted. She stated that in 2008 the tax capacity was at 39 percent, which was a 3.3 percent increase. She advised that the general fund budget would be increasing by $97,000, which would include the building permit revenues and other decreasing items. She explained that the largest change in the tax capacity rate was in 2001 and 2002 when the general school levy was taken over by the State. She reported that the tax capacity rate from 2002 to 2009 has been around 39 percent. She explained that the largest portion of revenue would be coming from property taxes, from 72 to 75 percent. She advised that other revenue sources decreased from five to three percent. She advised that Public Safety receives the largest amount of funds at 45 percent, and explained that budget decreased from 2008, as there had been the purchase of a fire truck the prior year. She advised that Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and General Government had all remained constant. City Council Work Session / July 29, 2008 Page 6 of 15