City Council Meeting Date: October 12, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Brenda Angelstad, Finance Director
Title
Discussion of 2022-2023 Budget & Levy alternatives and including potential Grants in Accordance with City Council Grants Policy.
Body
Action Requested:
Discussion only.
Summary Report:
Historical Society Funding Request
Cathy Osterman, Northfield Historical Society Executive Director, will present a budget request for 2021. The Northfield Historical Society is requesting $29,614 for 2022 only. They provided an attached summary for reference.
The last contract for City funding was $29,000 for 2018, 2019 and 2020. They did not request any funding for 2021 as they indicated they had been impacted by COVID and hadn’t completed all of the services under the prior contract. The years prior funding dating to 2014 is as follows: 2015-2017 = $25,792/year, 2014 = $19,656.
The current draft budget has $25,000 included and will be adjusted following direction of the City Council.
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Membership
Councilor Ness had requested an opportunity to consider membership in the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. Attached is information on the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities including fees. The membership fee would be a four year commitment and phased in fee. Based on the current fee structure, membership would be $41,668 for full fee but phased in as follows:
2022 = $10, 417
2023 = $20,834
2024 = $31,251
2025 = $41,668
The City of Northfield would be a larger member if we became membership. City Administrator Martig would suggest that if we become members we should become active in the membership with at least one dedicated City Councilor to participate including seeking board membership. There is an annual conference and a legislative day as well as other training opportunities. There also would be the ability to apply to be a host City in the future for the annual conference and trainings.
The draft budget does not have any funding included for this at this time. The budget would be adjusted dependent on Council direction.
Capital Improvement Plan and Capital Equipment Plan
Attached are the proposed Capital Improvement Plans and Capital Equipment Plans. Staff is suggesting that if there are any items for further review they be specifically identified at Tuesday’s meeting in preparation of final review at the November 9th work session. We do not plan on going through these in detail on Tuesday.
General Fund Budget and Tax Levy
Please see attached initial draft information related to the general fund budget and tax levy. Staff has prepared four alternate tax levy options that correspond to current draft budget expenses including staffing levels.
There is additional information being prepared that will be provided as supplemental information including:
• ARPA potential uses of funds
• Potential Expense Decreases/Revenue Increases
• Initial Grants Review (November follow up)
The goal of the meeting will be to have identified a proposed final levy and corresponding draft final budget including any new staffing positions. Action on the final draft proposal direction on this is planned for November 2nd. This will provide staff time to prepare public information in preparation of tax statements to be received at the end of November and the public hearing for the budget and levy on December 7.
Alternative Options:
Not applicable
Financial Impacts:
Not applicable
Tentative Timelines:
October 12, 2021 - Proposed General Fund Budget and Levy Proposal
November 2, 2021 - Motion to consider proposed, but not final, budget and levy for the public
hearing
November 9, 2021 - Capital Equipment Plan and Capital Improvement Plan - any final
adjustments
November 9, 2021 - Potential Grants - follow up information
December 7, 2021 - Public Hearing on 2022 Budget and Levy
December 7, 2021 - Consider Adopting 2022 Budget and Levy