09-25-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Staff has contacted other municipalities in Ramsey County the past month to determine their estimated preliminary levy increase. The estimated average increase is 5.81%. It is important to note that these increases may increase or decrease when the preliminary levies are approved by each municipality. The largest impacts to the 2020 levy are as follows: • Electronic records conversion of address files $40,000 • Addition of Public Works Maintenance I position/Public Works Apprentice position (Impact of $23,490 on General Fund) • Increase of $33,037 in contract with Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department • Increase of $20,500 in election costs since 2020 is an election year • Increase of $13,766 in Fire services contract with Little Canada Fire Department • Increase of $13,750 for Public Works contractual services • Public Works work crew services moved from General Capital Infrastructure Fund to General Fund $12,500 • Increase of $6,050 for emergency dispatch services contract with Ramsey County • Health insurance savings of $19,000 realized in the levy due to the City switching to a new health insurance provider in 2019. These savings were used to fund personnel increases in salaries and benefits. • Engineering savings of $19,000 is realized in the proposed levy due to a new contract for general engineering services that was negotiated in 2019. The City adopted a Strategic Plan at the last Council meeting. There are several 2020 Strategic Plan items included in the 2020 budget and 2020 levy: The attached budget document includes the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Debt Service Funds, Capital Improvement Funds, the Water Fund, and the Sewer Fund. The TIF Funds are not included in the preliminary budget since staff wants the opportunity to review the TIF Plans before preparing budgets for these funds. These budgets will be ready before the final adoption in December. There are not any TIF districts decertifying that will impact the 2020 property tax levy. Enhancing Idenity & Empowers Community •Establish criteria and method to get youth involved •Idenitify ways to publish newsletter on City website in different languages Creating Operational Efficiency •Identify and prioritize core zoning codes $10,000 •Address files electronic records conversion $40,000 •PW Maintenance I/Apprentice position $70,800 (General Fund $23,400) Maximize City Assets to Catalyze Development •Community Development reorganization $40,000 •Bring in developers to review market demand & suggest redevelopment opportunities •Establish parcel inventory for devleopment opportunities Mandating Action & Accountability •Identify ongoing steps for electronic records •Schedule regular meetings to discuss long-term goals & progress