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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – AUGUST 17, 2020 7 <br /> <br />D. Preliminary General Fund Budget <br /> <br />Finance Director Bauman said the City is required to adopt a maximum tax levy by the end of <br />September, which generally supports the General Fund. For the purpose of this discussion, there <br />is a 3% tax levy increase reflected in the budget. As presented, the General Fund Budget is <br />underfunded by $81,210. The 2020 budget was $121,590 underfunded so they are on the right <br />path but eventually the City needs to adopt a balanced budget. A tax increase levy of 5% would <br />be needed to balance the General Fund budget. <br /> <br />Finance Director Bauman stated that she has included in building permit revenue $245,000 for <br />two significant projects expected to move forward next year. One is a senior housing project and <br />the other is a commercial office/warehouse. The proposed 2021 budget is $5,193,530, an increase <br />of $175,220 or 3.5%. The increase is due to public safety costs which are going up over $95,000, <br />and personnel costs. <br /> <br />Finance Director Bauman said the projected 2021 property information is not yet available from <br />Ramsey County. Because of this, staff is unable to calculate tax rates or levy impacts. There is no <br />change proposed for the EDA Fund. The Public Safety Capital Fund has a proposed $50,000 tax <br />levy increase. In regard to the Equipment/Builidng Replacement Fund, the plan is to develop a <br />replacement schedule for all City equipment and the tax levy will be adjusted accordingly. More <br />revenues are required to support City infrastructure projects in the PIR Fund. <br /> <br />Finance Director Bauman reported that a survey was recently routed to various cities in the <br />metro asking about proposed levy amounts being considered. Arden Hills would be on the lower <br />spectrum of that survey. Also, this preliminary budget does not include any increases for business <br />license or liquor license fees. Staff had initially anticipated they would look at fee increases for <br />2021, but now with the Coronavirus pandemic the thought is to push any increases out at least a <br />year. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden noted a significant shift in Recreation in 2020 and 2021 and Park <br />Maintenance in 2020 and 2021. <br /> <br />Finance Director Bauman replied that the majority of the shift came from the Recreation <br />Program discussion with FPAC. The majority of it had to do with personnel time being moved <br />from the Recreation Program to Park Maintenance. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked about the Elections cost. <br /> <br />Finance Director Bauman said there was a $7,500 price increase in the contract price from <br />Ramsey County. <br /> <br />City Administrator Perrault said the County re-evaluated their overhead costs, they are looking <br />at increasing wages for election judges, and updating their supplies such as signage. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden said she could support a 2% COLA for staff, but not 3%. <br />Mayor Grant said if inflation is only 1.2%, a 3% increase wouldn’t work for him either. He <br />would be more inclined to go with 2% for staff and negotiating with the union for their contract.