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Long -Term Financial Plan <br />Page Thirty -Two <br />1,. <br />in an effort to solve the State's fiscal <br />problems, has limited the amount of homestead <br />credits and reduced the amount of local <br />government aids given to the City. Such actions <br />by the State Legislature dramatically affect the <br />City's ability to provide governmental services <br />to residents, while keeping property tax levies <br />to residents, while keeping property tax levies <br />to a minimum since property taxes and <br />intergovernmental revenues account for 81.51% of <br />the General Fund's revenue sources. As a <br />consequence of the City's reliance on these two <br />revenue sources to finance the majority of <br />governmental services the City is very much <br />affected by actions of the Legislature regarding <br />property tax levy limitations and levels of <br />intergovernmental aids. <br />Other revenue sources used to finance <br />governmental services are licenses and permits <br />and user fees. An annual review of the adequacy <br />of licenses, permits and other fees is <br />conducted. As a result of such reviews, fees <br />have been increased. Such actions have lessened <br />the City's reliance on property taxes and inter- <br />governmental revenues. The City will continue to <br />review fees and to seek other revenue sources. <br />One area.in which the City has worked to lessen <br />reliance on the property taxes is Parks and <br />Recreation. Recreation programming is accounted <br />for in the Recreation Activity Fund. Over the <br />past several years many costs which had formerly <br />been supported by property taxes and paid from <br />the General Fund have been shifted to the <br />Recreation Activity Fund. Such costs include <br />personnel and materials and supplies expenses. <br />In addition, fees charged for various recreation <br />programs have been increased. In doing so the <br />City has sought to maintain a balance between the <br />necessity to reduce reliance on property taxes <br />and the affordability of recreation programs. <br />Before further shifts of costs and/or increases <br />of recreation fees are undertaken, consideration <br />should be given to maintaining this balance. <br />The City will investigate the feasibility of <br />financing various local services with user fees. <br />All statutorily authorized user fees will be <br />considered. These include, but are not limited <br />to, storm water and transportation utilities. <br />