City Council Meeting Date: September 21, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Brenda Angelstad, Finance Director
Title
Consideration of a Preliminary 2022 General Fund Budget and Establishing a Date and Time for the Public Hearing.
Body
Action Requested:
Council approves the attached Resolution adopting a proposed 2022 General Fund Budget corresponding to a levy increase of 15.9% and setting the date and time for the Public Hearing.
Summary Report:
On August 10th, the City Council had a budget work session and reviewed the preliminary budgets and preliminary levy increase. The discussion continued at the September 14th work session. Staff presented a preliminary property tax levy increase of 11.8% as the baseline and discussed projects department wide. A 15.0% and a 15.9% alternative were also discussed that would allow for additional staff to be added to improve city services and address strategic plan initiatives.
The alternative resolution options attached reflects the preliminary revenues and expenditures for the general fund, corresponding with the property tax levy increase alternatives of 15.9% and 15.0% The increase or decrease from the baseline 11.8% increase in expense is adjusted in General Government expense. This allocation will change as additional priorities are discussed at later Work Sessions. The resolution also establishes the time and date for our public hearing for December 7th at 6:00 pm. The hearing is required by State statute and the City has coordinated the hearings with Rice County.
City Administrator Martig will be providing a brief presentation at the meeting. The presentation will be forthcoming as supplemental information for this agenda item.
Alternative Options:
• Consider an alternative resolution corresponding to an alternative preliminary property tax levy increase as shown in attachments 1 & 2.
Financial Impacts:
The attached resolution provides the summary budget information for the recommended and alternate budgets.
Tentative Timelines:
The City must submit the resolution including the public meeting time to the County by September 30, 2021.