12-16-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: Mayor Keis and Members of City Council FROM: Chris Heineman, City Administrator Brenda Malinowski, Finance Director DATE: December 16, 2020 RE: 2021 Annual Operating Budget The annual budget process is guided by policies, ordinances, and the Strategic Plan which have been adopted by the City Council. The Little Canada City Council conducted a Strategic Planning process in 2019 which established a practical vision for the community and identified clear steps the City will take to achieve that vision. Program and budgetary requests from the leadership team are evaluated and prioritized and appropriations are included in the budget. The City Administrator incorporates feedback and direction from the City Council as part of the budget preparation process and considers the financial impacts of each program request. The annual budget is more than a financial document, as it reflects the City of Little Canada’s plans, policies, procedures, and objectives regarding services to be provided in the fiscal year 2021 and beyond. The following descriptions and background information will serve to highlight the 2021 Annual Operating Budget. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, direction to the departments was to prepare a near zero budget increase for commodities and contractual services. The Gross Property Tax Levy will increase by 2.96% with this Budget. This is a decrease from the preliminary levy that was approved at 3.48% Budget process and timeline According to the municipal code, the City Administrator shall prepare an annual fiscal budget and capital improvement plan for the City Council. The budget follows the calendar year, January 1 to December 31. Minnesota Statutes require that the preliminary budget and the proposed tax levy be approved by the City Council before September 30th each year. This proposed levy must be certified to the Ramsey County Auditor by September 30th. The proposed tax levy may be decreased before final adoption in December, but it may not be increased. The Council approved a 3.48% levy increase on September 23rd, 2020. State law also requires that the City must announce by September 30th, the time and place of a future meeting at which the budget and levy will be discussed and public input allowed, before the final budget adoption and levy determination. This public input meeting must occur after November 24th and must start at or after 6:00 pm. By that same September 30th date, the City 1