Laserfiche WebLink
1984 LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLAN <br />Page Twenty -Four <br />affected by actions of the Legislature regarding property <br />tax levy limitations and levels of intergovernmental aids. <br />Recognition of the City's reliance on these two revenue <br />sources prompted the City to become a member of the <br />municipal Legislative Commission. The Commission is seeking <br />to develop and recomend to the Legislature a formula for <br />State Aids that is based upon a City's ability to provide <br />services to its residents and that is more equitable than <br />the present formula. <br />other revenue sources used to finance governmental services <br />are licenses and permits and charges for services. An <br />annual review of the adequacy of licenses, permits and other <br />fees is conducted. As a result of such reviews fees have <br />been increased. Such actions have lessened the City's <br />reliance on property taxes and intergovernmental revenues. <br />The City will continue to review fees and to seek other <br />revenue sources. <br />one area in which the City has worked to lessen reliance on <br />the property taxes is Parks and Recreation. Recreation <br />programming is accounted for in the Recreation Activity <br />Fund. Over the past three years many costs which had <br />formerly been supported by property taxes and paid from the <br />General Fund have been shifted to the Recreation Activity <br />Fund. Such costs include costs for personnel and materials <br />and supplies. In addition fees charged for various <br />recreation programs have been increased. In doing so the <br />City has sought to maintain a balance between the necessity <br />to reduce reliance on property taxes and the affordability <br />of recreation programs. Before further shifts of costs <br />and/or increases of recreation fees are undertaken <br />consideration should be given to maintaining this balance. <br />A promising idea for development of City parks with non -tax <br />revenues is the neighborhood park concept. The City has <br />encouraged and supported establishment of private <br />foundations which work toward improvement of their <br />neighborhood parks through a matching funds program. The <br />City matches funds raised by foundations for park <br />improvements. <br />The City has been active and will continue to be so in <br />searching for and utilizing various Federal and State <br />Grant -aid programs to lessen reliance on the property tax <br />levy. One area in which the City has been active is in <br />obtaining manpower through the Minnesota Emergency <br />Employment Development Program (MEED) and the Jobs <br />Partnership Training Act (JPTA) and their predecessors. <br />These programs have provided the City with additional <br />manpower in the following areas: Public Works Maintenance, <br />Parks Maintenance, Parks and Recreation Administration, and <br />General Administration. <br />i <br />4 <br />