Adopt Resolution #20-202 Adopting Proposed 2021 Payable Tax Levies (General, EDA and Debt Service) and Schedule Public Hearing for December 8, 2020; Adopt Resolution #20-203 Adopting Proposed 2021 General Fund Budget and Resolution #20-204 Adopting Proposed 2021 EDA Budget.

Purpose:  Each taxing authority must certify its proposed preliminary property tax levies for payable 2021 to the County Auditor by September  30, 2020. A budget/levy slide presentation will be provided that will outline the city's proposed 2021 levies and General Fund Budget.  The levy as presented reflects the consensus of the City Council at the final preliminary budget/levy work session on September 8, 2020.  Proposed 2021 Payable Tax Levy: Proposed Tax Levies: General Fund Levy: $11,194,848 EDA Levy (Included in General Levy)    $       75,360 Debt Service Levy – CIP Bond-(Fire Station #2) (Being Requested)     $      190,933 Debt Service Levy – CIP Bond(Municipal Center) (Being Requested)   $      814,713 Debt Service Levy - 2013 Equipment Certificate        $        74,366 Debt Service Levy - 2014 Equipment Certificates                    $      103,157 Reconstruction Debt - Andrie & Overlays $      150,490 Reconstruction Debt - Sunwood Drive & Alpine $        96,768 Reconstruction Debt - River's Bend & Stanhope Terrace  $      112,637 Reconstruction Debt - Garnet Street & Overlays $      114,563 Debt Service Levy-Proposed CIP Bond (PW Works Campus)(Being Requested) $      205,841     TOTAL PROPOSED LEVY 2021                                                                      $13,133,676 Based upon the proposed levy, the City's tax rate is projected to decrease slightly in 2021, subject to final property and tax calculations by the County.  The attached resolution, as it is presented, reflects a levy of $13,133,676. The proposed levy for 2021 reflects a $624,444 (4.99% increase) over the adopted levy in 2020 of $12,509,232. The levy increase of $624,444 is mostly attributed to personnel:       $507,863 Personnel Increase from 2020 to 2021 $340,385 of increase is related to Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA), steps, PERA, Workers Comp and health insurance costs.  2021 Union Contracts with Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) for Patrol, Sergeants and Captains and Afscme are yet to be negotiated for year 2021. $167,478 - Personnel Addition of a Full-time Police Officer, Part-time Police Records Technician, Full-time Park Maintenance Worker and position reclass of the current Administrative Assistant to Deputy City Clerk. Other Factors of Levy Increase:     $116,581 in Debt Service Levy attributed to the addition of the Public Works Campus Debt. 2021 Proposed General Fund Budget:  $14,423,348  ($13,303,589 - Year 2020) 2021 Proposed EDA Budget:  $85,360 ($98,913 - Year 2020)     All EDA and General Fund documents are included together, as the EDA levy calculated into the total general levy calculation of the city and thus accounts for the several motions listed below. While the proposed levy can always be reduced, it cannot be increased without "higher" level approval through an appeals process.   The proposed levy must be certified to Anoka County by Wednesday, September 30, 2020.  Therefore, the Council must make a decision prior to that date in regard to the amount of this levy.  If the proposed levy is not passed for any reason, the adopted 2020 levy will be certified as the city's payable 2021 levy. Schedule Budget Public Hearing Date: The Truth-in-Taxation (TNT) law was changed in 2009. The City is no longer required to hold a special TNT hearing or to publish a notice of the TNT hearing. In lieu of the eliminated formal TNT hearing, the City is required to hold a regularly scheduled meeting at which the budget and levy will be discussed. The City may adopt the budget and levy immediately following. The public meeting must be held between November 25 and December 30 and held after 6:00 P.M. Staff is recommending that the public meeting be held at its regularly scheduled meeting of December 8, 2020, with adoption of the 2021 General Fund Budget and levy to immediately follow. The public meeting date must be certified to Anoka County by Wednesday, September 30, 2020; therefore, the City Council must make a decision as to the date selected for the 2021 payable public meeting at tonight's meeting, unless a special meeting is called.

As this is the adoption of a preliminary levy that can be amended (only lowered) no alternatives are being listed.  Budget work sessions until final adoption in December will allow for revisions if needed

Based on the consensus of the City Council at its work session of September 8, 2020 recommend authorization of preliminary levy in the amount of $13,133,676 with the possibility of reduction prior to City Council adoption of the final levy on December 8, 2020 and to schedule the city of Ramsey's budget/levy public meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 7:00 P.M.

Motion to recommend Council adopt Resolution #20-202 Approving the Proposed 2020, Payable 2021 Tax Levy and to schedule the City of Ramsey's budget/levy public meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 7:00 p.m and Adopt Resolution #20-203 Adopting Proposed 2021 General Fund Budget and Resolution #20-204 Adopting Proposed 2021 EDA Budget..