2020 Vol 14, Issue 4 September-October Gem Lake News

Home

Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 Sales Preliminary Budget for 2021 (Continued from page 1) The following changes were made from the 2020 adopted budget as a basis for the 2021 proposed preliminary tax levy: Based on the 2015 Refunding Bond Schedule, the debt levy for 2021 is set for $80,876. In addition, in 2018, the City issued bonds for the improvements on Scheuneman Road in the business district and the 2021 debt levy for this issue is $9,065. The two of these debt levies makes up the City’s 2021 debt levy of $89,941. Licenses and Permits decreased $3,450 due to less building activity. The City Council contingency was left at $10,000. The police budget was increased 6% to $85,700. Fire services are projected to increase by 16% to $25,650. Building inspections activity is being decreased to $37,779, due to less building activity, but still includes a part-time code enforcement officer to help with building activities. Road maintenance includes $8,000 for trimming boulevard trees. The budget for salt and sand remains at $17,000 and the snowplow contract decreased from $20,000 to $18,500. A new line item for park maintenance now exists for maintaining the trail area west of Gem Lake Villas ($5.000). The 2021 budget does not include the $30,000 to construct a sidewalk along County Road E.These changes result in the City proposed preliminary tax levy of $538,308 for 2021. This compares to the 2020 preliminary levy of $577,773 and the 2020 final levy of $530,798. Using this proposed levy and the City’s 2020 tax capacity of $1,438,923, and a median home value of $310,000 for Gem Lake, the property would pay 2021 taxes of $1,136.94, compared to 2020 preliminary levy of $1,429. As the city prepares the final 2021 budget, the property tax levy can be lowered but not increased. A public hearing was held on September 15 at the Gem Lake City Council meeting to review the final version of the 2018 Gem Lake Comprehensive Plan. The original draft of the Comprehensive Plan was turned into the Metropolitan Council in 2018, as required by law. To get the job done, the City of Gem Lake enlisted the help of two outside agencies to complete this monumental task. They are the engineering firm of SEH, which acts as Gem Lake’s engineering representative, and the consulting firm of Northwest Associated Consultants, which specializes in helping cities with this type of plan. W ork began on the 2018 plan in 2016. The original draft went through the Gem Lake Planning Commission and the City Council for review. The plan then began its review process with the usual back and forth edits between the City and the Met Council. Following the initial review and edits, the final draft of Gem Lake’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan was sent out to be reviewed by neighboring cities about a year ago. Surrounding cities provide comment and then additional editing is done. The Metropolitan Council requires that all cities within the Twin Cities Metropolitan area submit a detailed comprehensive plan every ten years. This plan covers everything from land use and transportation to parks and storm water run-off. The plans typically take multiple years and significant engineering expertise to complete. The Comprehensive Plans required by all cities in our area are designed to coordinate aspects of growth and development throughout the metropolitan area, particularly as it pertains to housing, transportation, sewer lines and park land. The ultimate goal is to promote orderly growth and access to livable communities for everyone. The purpose of the public hearing on September 15 was to review the final version of the Gem Lake Comprehensive Plan. The council voted to direct Nate Sparks at Northwest Associated Consultants to submit the final draft to the Metropolitan Council for the final final final review. Work begins on the next 10-year plan in about six years. Public Hearing on the Gem Lake Comprehensive Plan