1981 Adopted Annual Budget - Laserfiche WebLink

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b) Levy Limitation Law - This law restricts the increase of ad valorem tax levies of cities over 2,500 to 8 percent (%) of their previous year tax levy. The City of Ramsey was exempt from this law when it incor- porated from Ramsey Township to the City of Ramsey until the 1980 census and if it exceeded 2,500 population then it would be subject to the levy limitation law. Consequently, this law will restrict the City in the future in trying to meet its responsibilities. In view of the City's rapid growth and not receiving its fair share of local aid, the levy limi- tation it is going to impose real problemsfor the City of Ramsey. c) Mandated Requirements - Federal and State mandated programs where the City of Ramsey is required to spend on studies and be in com- pliance with the. Federal and State mandates which they don't funds but have to be paid for through your tax dollars that the City gets to run your City. d) Inflation and Recession - This has had a tremendous affect on all areas of the City's cost of operation. It has also had an affect on the State Aid that the City of Ramsey receives from the State of Minnesota in that the State has had to reduce its pledged amount dollars to Ramsey in 1981. e) Growth - The City's growth has created demands for better ser- vices within the City such as police, streets, parks, etc. The City's reaction to the above has been as follows: a) The City has become very involved in legislation at the State level during the past three legislative sessions to get the State law govern- ing the distribution of State Aid changed where it will be more equitable to all Cities. The City Council is finding that even laws that produce in- equities are very difficult to change. b) The City does prepare a very comprehensive budget which allows the City Council to take an indepth look at the total City Operational costs. c) The City is maximizing the use of investment programs in regard to any of its surplus funds. d) The City is maximizing the use of contracting services such as computer service from its neighboring community of Anoka. This has been ex- tremely beneficial to both communities. It has saved Ramsey many dollars and will continue to in the future. e) The City is a part of the Hennepin County Purchasing Group and this has been extremely beneficial to the City. f) The City maintains a very small work force which keeps labor costs down. It should be noted that the computer contracting saves the City at least one person in the Accounting area and the City probably would have had to add one and one-half persons in this area had it not been for this effort.