Ramsey Resident - 2002 - November/December

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5 2003 CITY BUDGET PREPARED PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 2 The 2003 proposed budget was reviewed by the City Council at several workshops and meetings in August and September, and on September l l th the City Council approved the maximum 2003 City Tax Levy and General Fund Budget. The levy, as approved, would decrease the City's tax rate by approximately 5.6 percent over the 2002 rate. This means that if your property value, as determined by the County Assessor, did not increase, ycur 2003 City property tax will decrease by approximately 5.6 percent (City share only). Keep in mind that if your property value increased for taxes payable in 2003, your tax will increase more due to the increase in assessed value. The City, Anoka County, Anoka -Hennepin ISD #11 or Elk River ISD #728, and special taxing districts all receive a portion of your property tax. As the chart below indicates, in 2002 the City will receive approximately 36.5% ofthe property taxes paid by City property owners. 2002 PROPERTY TAX ALLOCATION Special Districts 4.00% ISD#I1 25.81 % City 36.49% Most of the City's tax levy revenue is used to pay for General Fund activities. The balance is used to pay for bonds and capital equipment certificates issued for the construction of Fire Station No. II and capital equipment funding. General Fund activities include general government (elections, administration, finance, mayor and council, planning, commissions, legal, etc.), public safety (police, fire, protective inspections, civil defense, animal control and traffic engineering), public works (engineering, street maintenance, and snow and ice removal), and parks and recreation (parks, community programs and environmental services). As you can see from the chart below, public safety accounts for the majority of the General Fund expenditures. 2003 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES Debt Service/Misc 4.3 2 % Parks & Recreation 7.46% Public Works 15.62% Other Uses 7.10% Public Safety 38.49% G eneral G overnment 27.01% Although the City continually tries to find innovative ways to increase revenues without increasing property taxes, property tax revenue is still the major source of General Fund Revenue. Intergovernmental Revenues (state and federal aids) have continued to decrease and now account for less than 10 percent of the General Fund revenues. 2003 PROJECTED GENERAL FUND REVENUES a C ter Fitancitg Sources 11.97% Chairs for Services 3.96 % lntermvemr Revenues 9.55% Taxes 65.61 % Fines mesmert ' & Forfeitures Eaminp Licenses 0.72% 146 % & Pentits 6.73% Public hearings on the proposed 2003 Tax Levy and General Fund Budget will be held in December. The first hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 2, 2002 at 6:00 p.m., at Fire Station No. II. The public is invited to attend, as this is your opportunity to share your comments on the tax levy and budget with the Mayor and City Council. If necessary, Monday, December 9, 2003, at 6:00 p.m., has been scheduled for reconvening the public hearing. Following input from the public, the final 2003 Tax Levy and General Fund Budget will be adopted at a subsequent meeting. MISSING A BIKE? CALL THE RAMSEY PD The Ramsey Police Department has numerous bikes in their possession. If you are missing a bicycle, stop by or call the Police Department at 427-6812. Any bikes that remain unclaimed will ultimately be auctioned off but the Police Department would really prefer returning the bikes to their rightful owners. The best security blanket a child can have is parents who respect each other. - Jan Blaustone