Agenda - Council - 03/27/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Community Development Department was also in a position to replace the city planner position as the result of the incumbent accepting another position. After considerable effort in the hiring of this position, the Human Resources Manager and Community Development Director were authorized by Council to upgrade the planner position to a senior planner. The Public Works Department experimented with a Lead Person position last summer to supervise and oversee the seasonal Public Works staff. This position has also been budgeted to become a permanent full-time position in 2001. The Finance Department budgeted for a TIF Specialist position and that position was filled in May, 2000. FINANCE Taxes: Financial aid from other levels of government has been stable or shrinking throughout the 1990s. In 1990, intergovernmental aid amounted to 50% of the City's total revenues. In 2001, it is estimated to be 21% of City revenues. In order to replace the disappearing intergovernmental aid, the City has had to increase local property taxes as well as charges and fees for City-sponsored activities. The 200l City tax rate will be 14.59% higher than the 2000 rate. For several years Ramsey's tax rates have been among the lowest in the metropolitan area. Budget: The Ramsey City Council adopted the 2001 tax levy and General Fund operating budget on December 12, 2000. The certified levy for 2001 is $3,682,626, of which $3,446,434 is for General Fund operations and $236,192 is for repayment of General Obligation debt. The effect of the adopted 2001 tax levy on a residential property valued at $100,000 (with no change in assessed valuation from 2000 to 2001 would be an increase of 14.49% or $40.40 in the share of the taxes paid to the City. Any increase in the assessed value of the home would have a different result. The total General Fund operational budget was adopted at $5,557,928. Payroll accounts for more than half (60.05%) of the total budget. Tax Increment Financing (TIF): For calendar year 2000 The City of Ramsey was very active negotiating with businesses to locate in old and new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts. TIF District No. 7 (Ramsey B & B, LLC) and TIF District No. 8 (L.W. Makens) were both created in 2000. Both districts are classified as redevelopment districts and both show much promise in revitalizing Ramsey. TIF District No. 7 was created to clear the old "Lighthouse" site and brings in several new businesses which are housed in a newly constructed multi-tenant retail building. All of the store-fronts have been filled. This district has a duration of 15 years and will be decertified in Tax year 2016. Our newest TIF district, No. 8, was created in December of 2000 and is also a redevelopment district with a duration of 25 years. Negotiations with Pheoll Fasteners, Amcon Construction, Amcor Precast and T & G, Land Inc., are finalized and development agreements are being drafted to reflect the results of the negotiations. These projects should be constructed by the end of 2001. This redevelopment project is