Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/13/2007

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2006 ANNUAL REPORT FOR CITY OF RAMSEY, MINNESOTA Each year this report to the citizens of Ramsey highlights the major activities that occurred during the year just completed. The City continues to grow and federal and state aids continue to decline. Despite these 'financial challenges, elected officials and staff members continu.e to work to provide stable or improved levels of City services. POPULATION Ramsey's population has increased from 12,408 (3,641 households) in the 1990 census to a 2000 population of 18,510 persons in 5,960 households, according to the 2000 census. The estimated population at the 'end of 2006 is 23,500.' GENERAL OPERATIONS The General Fund provides for the following types of services: . General Government - Council, administration, finance, commissions, planning/zoning, legal. . Public Works - Street maintenance, snow and ice removal, and engineering servIces. r, . Parks and Recreation - Park maintenance, community services, and environmental services. . Public Safety - Police, fire, protective inspections, animal control, emergency management. FINANCE Taxes: Financial aid from other levels of government has been stable or shrinking throughout the 1990's. In 1990, intergovernmental aid amounted to 50% of the City's total revenues. In 2007, it is estimated to be 6.56% of City's 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. For the third year in a row, taxes payable 2005, payable 2006 and taxes payable 2007, the State Legislature has removed levy limits on cities. ' The 2007 City tax rate will be .22% higher than the 2006 rate. The City's 2007 tax capacity rate is approximately 39.438%. For several years, Ramsey's tax rates have been ~ among the lowest in the metropolitan area. Budget: The Ramsey City Council adopted the 2007 tax levy and General Fund operating budget on December 21,2006. The certified levy for 2007 is $8,524,981 of which $6,884,480 is for General Fund operations, $1,247,126 for repayment of General Obligation debt and $393,375 for the operation of the Economic Development Authority. The effect of the adopted 2007 tax levy on a residential property valued at $200,000 with no change in assessed valuation from 2006 to 2007 would be a decrease of 2.51 % or a reduction of $49.10 on total property taxes. Any increase in the assessed value of the home would have a different result. 2006 Annual Report -1-