2018 Adopted Budget - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

City Council Members, Citizens and Others: It is my privilege to present.the 2018 budget for the:City of Gem Lake. This. budget, as adopted by the City Council identifies how the City resources will be spent in 2018. This budget is the City's financial management plan and has been designed to be responsive to public service demands and. for carrying out services. over the coming year. The 20.18 budget is the result of sound financial management, and affords some protection for the future operation of the City. It is the City's intent to submit and manage the budget in the most open and straightforward manner possible, which will allow consistent and careful management of all resources. The City continually faces many challenges, which draw upon the resources and value judgmerits of all of us. The City budget focus has been to maintain services provided' and existing infrastructure. Public safety remains a priority for'the City and this budget includes expenditures to switch the City's law enforcement from Ramsey County Sheriffs Department to the City of White Bear Police. Department, which maintains services but lowers the cost. Also for 2018 the City has included in the budget $10,000 for updating and filing the City's IViS4 Report (storm watermanagement plan) to the State and $50,000 to -complete the update to the City's Comprehensive Plan. The ice and Snow Removal budget was increased to reflect past expenditure.. levels.. Finally, $20,000 is being budgeted to fund future. capital projects in the City. On the revenue. side, the largest revenue source is property taxes,. which make up almost 87.2% of total revenues for the City. The City in the past had used. reserves to help fund General Fund operations and maintain the lowest possible tax levy. In 2016, $80,000 of reserves were used for this purpose. In 2017, there were no reserves available to fund 2017 operations and reduce the property tax levy and no reserves are planned to be used in 20.18. The 2018 property tax levy is increased. 3.27% and the City's tax capacity also increase 7.2% which results in a tax rate of 39.3.35% compared to 41.111 °/fl in 2017.. Based on this most residents would see an increase in their City property tax bills from 2017 to 2018. As 2018 unfolds, the City is well positioned to meet current and future challenges through sound fiscal management. It is. our hope this budget will meet the expectationsand need of Gem Lake residents. My sincere thanks are extended to the City Council. for their time and effort in the preparation of this document. Respectfully, Tom Kelly City Treasurer 2