Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 12/13/1990

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CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA The Ramsey City Council conducted a public hearing on Tuesday, November 20, 1990 at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard Northwest, Ramsey, Minnesota regarding the proposed 1991 General Fund Budget and Payable 1991 Property Tax Lex,3,. Members Present: Mayor Gar)' Reimann Councilmember Richard Cich Councilmember Stephen F. DeLuca Couneilmember Alan Pearson Councilmember Kenneth Peterson Also Present: City Administrator David Harttcy Finance Officer Sandra Ashley CALL TO ORDER Mayor Reimann called the public hearing to order at 7:03 p.m. PRESENTATION City Administxator David Hartley was present and stated that the purpose of this public hearing is to review the Proposed 1991 General Fund Budget and Payable 1991 Property Tax Levy in conformance with the State law. Property taxes are comprised of a number of divisions: City, County, School District and Regional Special Districts. Changes in property value are impacted by a number of things such as spending for services, laws affecting property values, distribution of taxes, local government funding, home improvements, changes in the housing market and property classifications (homestead, commercial, industrial, agricultural). Local government aid received from the State of Minnesota was increased in 1989 to a level comparable to other cities our size. then in 1990 and for 1991 local government aid reverted back to 1986 levels, placing more of a burden on the community as a whole. To answer the question "What justifies your taxes?", we need to compare our tax rate with other communities and services received. Ramsey's tax rate is slightly below the average rate in Anoka Count3'. Finance Officer Sandra Ashley stated that the property taxes received make up 48.5% of the Civ's revenue income. Within the Proposed 1991 General Fund Budget, the revenue reduction of $31,627 for Intergovernmental - State is primarily due to the reduction of local government aid. Expenditure reductions are a result of eliminating excess liability insurance although there has been an increase in staffing. 'Fne reduction of public safet3, costs is the result of discontinuing contract fire protection services. A new position in the Public Works Department increased expenditures for that department. Additional time and labor for the parks has generated an increase under the heading of Culture and Recreation as well as items required for the City parks in the amoum of S10,000. Additional staff time and the cost of trees for distr/bufion to residents for Arbor Events increased the costs for Conservation of natural resources. There is a large decrease under the heading of Capital Outlay: this is due to the fact that Engineering Depmwrnent start-up costs were a one-time cost for the vear !990. Reserve expenditure increase is caused primarily by legal fees fo." i/t/gat-ion regarding the adult bookstore and insurance uncertainties. Ci~' Coun:il Public Hem-rog/' Novemmr 20. !990 Page i of 4