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I I I Council Meeting Minutes September 8, 1992 Page 4 Council Business. continued Finance Director Margaret Egan presented the proposed 1993 budget and maximum tax levy. The proposed change in the tax amount from 1992 to 1993 is 6.7%. The City's share of property taxes on $70,000 and $100,000 valued homes will increase $8 and $14 per year, respectively. However, a $150,000 home will see a lowering of the City's share of property taxes due to changes in the State valuation method. Service changes in public safety and public works include the increase of one officer and increased Community Service Officer staffing of 1/2 of a position. Engineering assistance will be increased to permit work on street and utility reconstruction efforts. In anticipation of the prepayment of the Water Improvement Bond, there is an extraordinary expense of $755,000 in the Water Department. The annual installment of the Fleet requirements will be adjusted to about $50,000 above the 1992 amount. Childs said the Truth in Taxation Law requires cities to certify a proposed budget and levy by September 15 and establish a public hearing date. The budget hearing will be December 15, 1992. The tax levy amount will be mailed to property owners in November. The City will continue to rework the budget in an effort to lower the tax levy amount. Childs noted that due to levy limits for the last 13 years, the City was unable to acquire additional police personnel. The upcoming hiring of additional police personnel will allow the City to maintain its high level of community public safety. This addition accounts for a sizable portion in the 1993 tax levy increase. An article published by the Citizen's League referred to New Brighton's high tax burden. However, the article did not illustrate that other communities within Ramsey County also have higher tax burdens due to Ramsey County's high tax rate in comparison to other counties. The City share of a New Brighton resident's taxes is well below the median of the other Metro Area cities, and is, infact, 74th of the 95 cities in the Metro Area. The City will make available to the public supplemental budget information through local publications and the "In the Neighborhood" newsletter. Williams feels New Brighton taxpayers need to be informed that their higher taxes are due to Ramsey County tax rates, not high City tax rates. Council Business Proposed 1993 Budget and Tax Levy Report 92-206 Resolution 92-094