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CITY OF HUGO, MINNESOTA <br />MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS <br />Proprietary funds. The City of Hugo's proprietary funds statements found on pages 27-29 and 78 <br />provide the same type of information found in the government -wide financial statements, but in more <br />detail. <br />The unrestricted net position in the respective proprietary fund totaled $18,934,340 at December 31, <br />2015. The proprietary fund's net position increased by $1,529,999 due largely to one-time infrastructure <br />fees for new development and noncash capital contributions from developers. <br />Water utility conservation rates were implemented in 2010. Although metered water connections <br />increased 2.0% in 2015, revenue from the sale of water increased 6.0%. This was primarily due to an <br />increase in residential and irrigation services. The water utility remains profitable but increasing calls for <br />higher water conservation may lead to the need to increase rates in 2016. <br />Sewer utility rates were decreased in 2013 to account for decreased sewage treatment costs imposed <br />by the Metropolitan Council. Sewer connections increased 2.0% in 2015, resulting in a 5.5% increase in <br />revenue. The sewer utility had operating income of $128,837 in 2015, primarily due to an increase in <br />service charges revenue coupled with a decrease in sewer costs charged by the Metropolitan Council. <br />General Fund Budgetary Highlights <br />The city's general fund operations remain healthy due to historically sound financial management and <br />conservative budgeting practices. The general fund balance of $2.4 million is a substantial 57% of <br />general fund expenditures. The City's general fund year end results were better than budgeted, <br />particularly in nonbusiness licenses revenue and charges for services, as well as highways and street <br />expenses and park expenses for which the city traditionally budgets conservatively. The city no longer <br />receives local government aid from the state. This loss in aid created short-term pressures which were <br />offset by budget planning and the city now has more stability in its revenue stream as it will no longer <br />be as vulnerable to additional state reductions. Significant differences between the final budget and <br />actual results can be briefly summarized as follows: <br />• Licenses and permits revenue exceeded budget by $192,888 due primarily to higher than <br />budgeted building permit revenue as a result of increased construction in the City. <br />• The City received a grant in the amount of $56,714 from the State of Minnesota to help with <br />disaster clean-up. This amount was not included in the 2015 budget. <br />• Charges for services revenue exceeded budget by $145,330 due primarily to various fees <br />related to increased construction in the City. <br />• Public safety expenditures were less than budget by $60,719 due primarily to lower than <br />budgeted fire protection services. <br />• Highways and streets expenditures were less than budget by $181,977 due primarily to <br />lower than expected street materials and repairs and maintenance costs. <br />• Parks expenditures were less than budget by $91,917 due primarily to lower than expected <br />seasonal labor costs and equipment maintenance costs. <br />12 <br />