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7.2.
CC Regular Session
Meeting Date:
09/28/2021
By:
Diana Lund, Finance

Information

Title:

Adopt Resolution #21-279 Adopting Proposed 2022 Payable Tax Levies (General, Pavement Management, EDA and Debt Service) and Schedule Public Hearing for December 14, 2021; Adopt Resolution #21-280 Adopting Proposed 2022 General Fund Budget and Resolution #21-281 Adopting Proposed 2022 EDA Budget.

Purpose/Background:

Purpose:  Each taxing authority must certify its proposed preliminary property tax levies for payable 2022 to the County Auditor by September  30, 2021.

A budget/levy slide presentation will be provided that will outline the city's proposed 2022 levies and General Fund Budget.

 The city held several worksessions on the proposed 2022 preliminary budget and related levies, with the last worksession, prior to preliminary adoption, being held on September 28, 2021. 

Proposed 2022 Payable Tax Levy:
Proposed Tax Levies:
General Fund Levy: $   11,712,590
Pavement Management Fund Levy (Included in General Levy) $    1,673,227
EDA Levy (Included in General Levy) $         75,360
Debt Service Levy:  CIP Bond (Municipal Center) (Being Requested) $       796,698
Debt Service Levy - CIP Bond ( Fire Station #2) $       280,153
Debt Service Levy - 2013 Equipment Certificates $         77,910
Debt Service Levy - 2014 Equipment Certificates $       101,173
Debt Service Levy - CIP Bond (Public Works Campus) $       127,276
2015 Reconstruction Debt - Garnet Street & Overlays $       117,293
2016 Reconstruction Debt - Andrie & Overlays $       153,477
2017 Reconstruction Debt - Sunwood Drive & Alpine $         95,781
2018 Reconstruction Debt - River's Bend & Stanhope Terrace $       110,340
    Total Proposed Levy - 2022 $ 15,321,278


Based upon the proposed levy, the City's estimated tax rate is projected to increase in 2022 from 39.251% (2021) to 42.943% subject to final property and tax calculations by the County.  The attached resolution, as it is presented, reflects a levy of $15,321,278. The proposed levy for 2022 reflects a $2,311,471 (17.77% increase) over the adopted levy in 2021 of $13,009,808.

The levy increase of $2,311,471 is largely attributed to the new Pavement Management Levy in the amount of $1,673,227 (number was arrived at based on 15% of last years General Fund Levy of $11,154,848).  The Pavement Management Fund Levy replaces the Franchise Fee that was rescinded on July 27, 2021 and thus all city franchise fees will be removed from a residents/business gas (Centerpoint Energy) and electric  (Anoka Municipal and Connexus Energy) bills after their December 31, 2021 billing.  The estimated amount that was to be collected from the franchise fee was approximately $1.9M.

Other Factors of Levy Increase:
  1. $249,797 Personnel additions of a full-time Park Maintenance worker, full-time Systems and Security Administrator, part-time Receptionist/Secretary (offset with reduction of Admin Intern), current part-time Police Tech and Building Maintenance workers to full-time, additional hours for Recreation Specialist, and position reclasses of the current Senior Planner to Planning Manager, Engineering Tech IV to Senior Engineering Tech, Streets Lead to Streets Department Supervisor and Maintenance Worker to Street Lead Person.
  2. $307,946 of increase is related to Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA), Market Rate Adjustments, steps, Pera, Workers Comp and health insurance costs.  Most of the Union Contracts with Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) for Patrol, Sergeants and Captains and Afscme have been negotiated for year 2022.
  3. $80,501 in Debt Service Levy 

2022 Proposed General Fund Budget:  $14,543,640  ($14,383,348 - Year 2021)

2022 Proposed EDA Budget:  $85,360  No change from adopted 2021.
   
All EDA and General Fund documents are included together, as the EDA levy calculates 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.  Until the budget and levy is formally adopted on December 14, 2021, there will be budget worksessions to continue discussions on the Proposed 2022 General Fund Budget and 2022 Proposed Levies.

The proposed levy must be certified to Anoka County by Thursday, September 30, 2021.  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 2021 levy ($13,009,808) will be certified as the city's payable 2022 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 14, 2021, with adoption of the 2022 General Fund Budget and levy to immediately follow.

The public meeting date must be certified to Anoka County by Thursday, September 30, 2021; therefore, the City Council must make a decision as to the date selected for the 2022 payable public meeting at tonight's meeting, unless a special meeting is called.

Time Frame/Observations/Alternatives:

1.  Adopt Total Preliminary Levy of $15,321,278 which includes a 5% General Levy increase over 2021 Adopted General Levy and $1,673,227 for the City's Pavement Management Funding (Road Reconstructions and Overlays) that would replace Franchise Fees.

2.  Adopt Total Preliminary Levy of $15,548,051 Levy of $15,548,051 which includes a 5% General Levy increase over 2021 Adopted General Levy and $1.9M for the City's Pavement Management Funding that would replace the estimated $1.9M in Franchise Fees.

3.  Retain Levy at 2021 Final Levy Adoption of $13,009,808.

Recommendation:

Staff recommmends Option #1 above based on much discussions at City Council budget worksessions with the possibility of reductions to the preliminary levy prior to City Council adoption of the final levy on December 14, 2021 and to schedule the City of Ramsey's budget/levy public meeting on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 7:00 P.M.

Outcome/Action:

Motion to recommend Council adopt Resolution #21-279 Approving the Proposed 2021, Payable 2022 Tax Levy in the amount of $15,321,278 and to schedule the City of Ramsey's budget/levy public meeting on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 7:00 p.m and Adopt Resolution #21-280 Adopting Proposed 2022 General Fund Budget and Resolution #20-281 Adopting Proposed 2022 EDA Budget..

Attachments

Form Review

Inbox Reviewed By Date
Kurt Ulrich Kurt Ulrich 09/23/2021 12:06 PM
Form Started By:
Diana Lund
Started On:
08/30/2021 12:09 PM
Final Approval Date:
09/23/2021