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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Council Meeting Minutes <br />December 10, 1997 <br /> <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />Consent Agenda. continued <br /> <br />4. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE WATER TOWER LEASE <br />AGREEMENT WITH US WEST COMMUNICATIONS WIRELESS <br />GROUP. <br /> <br />5 Ayes - 0 Nayes, Motion Carried <br /> <br />Katherine Fournier, owner of Higher Grounds, announced the reopening of the coffee <br />shop and the change to a more family-friendly atmosphere. <br /> <br />Public Hearing - Truth in Taxation Hearing <br /> <br />City Manager Matthew Fulton explained that the annual budgeting process allows for <br />evaluation of future service needs and capital improvements. This process is thorough <br />with many staff and Council worksessions to develop a financial plan, Stability and <br />efficiency are promoted, and the City is sensitive to concerns of effective budgeting. <br /> <br />Due to financial pressures of a fully developed community, New Brighton will encounter <br />increased reliance on property tax levies as opposed to non-taxed revenue, Because of <br />this, there is great need to keep the tax levy stable and meet service expectations, The <br />1998 Annual Budget incorporates many of those expectations and allows for continued <br />service levels. <br /> <br />Finance Director Margaret Egan noted a last minute positive change in the budget which <br />reduced the tax levy to $2,959,800, or a 3.09% increase over the 1997 levy. This <br />compares to the original projection of $2,970,800 or a 3.47% increase, <br /> <br />Items impacting the budget include: continuation of current services; reconstruction of <br />southeast area streets; playground improvements for Sunny Square Park and Meadow <br />Wood Park; renovation of Brightwood Hills Go]f Clubhouse; funding of General Fund <br />services shift to taxes as non-tax revenues decrease; increased utility rates due to system <br />improvements and engineering services; $19 annual recycling charge; reassignment of <br />Senior Planner and hiring of Planner I; elimination of one Maintenance Worker position; <br />Comprehensive Plan update; reduced contributions to Fire Relief Assn,; and ISO rating <br />provided a decrease in insurance rates. <br /> <br />The 1998-2000 Financial Plan identified the development of the following strategies: <br />managing genera] reserves with emphasis on ensuring support for operations; golf course <br />and driving range; ongoing capital needs for the Family Service Center (FSC); <br />evaluation of engineering project fees; and administrative costs recovered by recreation <br />program customer fees. <br /> <br />Taxes are used primarily to support the services of the General Fund ($2,054,100) and <br />to help pay for capital projects ($916,700), <br /> <br />Total service costs will be $12,329,800. Non-tax revenues fully fund the budget such as <br />utility fees, building permits, FSC rentals, interest earnings, and State Aids. The <br />General Fund is the most costly and represents 61 % of service costs; utilities - 24 % ; <br />capital installments - 12 %; and golf and driving range - 3 %. Taxes provide 27 % of <br />support for the General Fund; and non-tax revenues provide the remaining 73 % . <br /> <br />Consent Agenda <br /> <br />Antenna Lease <br />Report 97-259 <br /> <br />Public Hearing <br /> <br />Truth in Taxation <br />Hearing <br />Report 97-260 <br />Resolution 97-085 <br />