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City Council Approves 2011 Preliminary Budget A preliminary budget of $426,015 for 2011 was approved by the Gem Lake City Council on August 17 at the City Council Meeting. This budget includes a general tax levy of $361,245 and a debt service levy of $52,000. Cities throughout Ramsey County must approve a preliminary budget number and submit it to the county by no later than September 15. Throughout the autumn months, each city is allowed time to further refine its budget and submit a final number in December. However, the final tax levy cannot be higher than the preliminary number due in September. Property tax revenue are expected to make up approximately 84% of the budget, with the bulk of the remainder coming from licenses and permits (3%), miscellaneous income (9.75%) and Intergovernmental income (2.52 As with previous years, expenditures will fall into three main categories: Public Works, which will make up 17.75% of the 2011 budget, General Government, which will make up 55.44% of the budget, and Public Safety, which will make up nearly 27% of the budget. Public Works covers such things as road maintenance, ice and snow removal and park maintenance. Road maintenance costs are budgeted to be up 68.45% over last year to cover some necessary road repairs in the business district and several other areas. The ice and snow removal budget will remain unchanged over 2010 and the park maintenance budget is a big flat "zero." Public Safety covers police, fire protection, animal control and building inspections. The only increase in this category will be a 3.14% projected increase in police services. General government covers such things as city council, general government, legal services, elections, financial administration, planning and zoning and costs associated with the running of Heritage Hall. In this category, general government and Heritage Hall costs are up slightly. "We are working hard to keep the budget and the tax levy in line with 2010, without cutting services," said Gem Lake Mayor Bob Uzpen. "We are on track to accomplish this." As in previous years, input from citizens would be welcome throughout the budgeting process. Hunting and Weapons Discharge Ordinance Discussed A proposed ordinance prohibiting the discharge of dangerous weapons with the City of Gem Lake was extensively discussed again by the City Council on August 17. Ordinance #120, if passed, would provide exceptions to this rule for County or State -organized hunting to manage wildlife populations, when approved by the City Council-, defense of people and property from vicious animals, and for law enforcement personnel in the course of their duties. This proposed ordinance was the subject of a public hearing last month and several previous council and planning commission meetings. A good deal of feedback was obtained on this subject, both for and against a ban on private hunting.