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1985 LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLAN <br />Page Thirty -One <br />homestead credits and reduced the amount of <br />local government aids given to the City. Such <br />actions by the State Legislature dramatically affect <br />the City's ability to provide governmental services <br />to residents, while keeping property tax levies to a <br />minimum since property taxes and intergovernmental <br />revenues account for 79.05% of the Genera! Fund's <br />revenue sources. As a consequence of the City's <br />reliance on these two revenue sources to finance the <br />majority of gcvernmental services the City is very <br />much affected by actions of the Legislature <br />regarding property tax levy limitations and levels <br />of intergovernmental aids. <br />Other revenue sources used to finance governmental <br />services are licenses and permits and charges for <br />services. An annual review of the adequacy of <br />licenses, permits and other fees is conducted. As a <br />result of such reviews fees have been increased. <br />Such actions have lessened the City's reliance on <br />property taxes and intergovernmental revenues. The <br />City will continue to review fees and to seek other <br />revenue sources. <br />One area in which the City ha- worked to lessen <br />reliance on the property taxes is Parks and <br />Recreation. Recreation programming is accounted for <br />in the Recreation Activity Fund. Over the past three <br />years many costs which had formerly been supported <br />by property taxes and paid from the General Fund <br />have been shifted to the Recreation Activity Fund. <br />Such costs include personnel and materials and <br />supplies expeises. In addition `rues Charged for <br />various recreation programs have been increased. In <br />doing so the City nus sought co maintain a halance <br />oetween the necessity tc reduce reliance on property <br />taxes and the aftccdabclity of recreation programs. <br />Before further shifts of costs and/or increases of <br />rprrpatinn fpes a-e _nderf3S cr. LJ;151de[oL:ui. siiuuld <br />be given to mair.taining this balance. <br />A promising idea for developmant of City parks wit:. <br />non -tax revenues is the neighborhood park concept. <br />The City has encouraged and supported estatlishment <br />of private foundations which work toward i,nprovemenc <br />of their neighborhood parks through a matching funds <br />program. The City matches funds raised by <br />foundations for park improvements. The first <br />project _,ndcr this trngrem was i_nderta�nn in 1985 it <br />Groveland Park. The City provided 50% of costs of <br />installation of playground equipment and the <br />Groveland Park Foundation provided the other 50%. <br />