Laserfiche WebLink
<br />How COLA is calculated <br />For the past five years, a predetermined formula was used to calculate a preliminary COLA: <br /> <br />a) 75% weighting of COLA’s average in survey of comparable Cities. The average noted was <br />3.33% <br />b) 25% weighting of Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the MSP/Bloomington trade area from May <br />2023 to May 2024 (Increase of 2.6%) <br /> <br />Note: The 2025 COLA is in addition to step increases of 3.25% based on the approved wage scale. <br />For 2025 there are five employees that are not eligible for a step increase. <br /> <br />Final Preliminary Proposed Levy <br /> <br />After the COLA increase noted above of $6,591 the final 2025 proposed preliminary levy is an <br />increase of 9.51% over the adopted 2024 levy or $434,899. <br /> <br />Fund 2024 Certified Levy 2025 Levy $ Change % Change <br />General Fund $4,150,784 $4,545,683 $394,899 9.51% <br />General Capital Fund 100,000 130,000 30,000 30.00% <br />Fire Equipment Fund 160,000 130,000 (30,000)-18.75% <br />Infrastructure Fund 160,000 200,000 40,000 25.00% <br />Total $4,570,784 $5,005,683 $434,899 9.51% <br />2025 Final Gross Levy Compared with 2024 <br /> <br /> <br />The primary impacts for the proposed levy increase of 9.51% can be attributed primarily to contracted <br />police services with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), fire services, personnel services, <br />attorney services, using a 2.5% additional levy per City policy as a starting point rather than 1.5% as it <br />was adopted in 2024, contracted services for Projects/Facility Management, and Infrastructure Street <br />Fund 450 levy increase. <br /> <br />Significant Budget Changes: <br /> <br /> Police Services Ramsey County Contract – 7.07% or $133,059 increase <br /> Personnel Services – 6.24% or $109,465 increase <br /> 2.5% additional levy per City policy – $113,642. In 2024 City Council used a 1.5% additional <br />levy. A decrease of 1% in policy will decrease the levy by $46,149 <br /> Fire Contract – 4.94% or $24,460 increase <br /> Attorney – 18.56% or $18,750 increase <br /> Contracted Services - $20,000 for Projects/Facility Management <br /> Infrastructure Fund Levy – 25% or $40,000 increase <br /> <br />As noted in the above table the Fire Equipment Fund levy has been decreased by $30,000. The proposed <br />decrease is possible since the City decided to allocate $450,000 of its one time Public Safety Aid toward <br />the second payment of the fire ladder truck. The $30,000 reduction is proposed to be allocated toward