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Library : Newspaper Articles City levy, capital improvements and budget figures approved Ed DuBois - Staff Writer Wright County Journal-Press : December 6, 2002 The Buffalo City Council approved its 2003 levy, capital improvements and budget figures this week. City Administrator Merton Auger presented information during a public hearing before the Council acted. Auger said the city's levy for 2003, $1.68 million, is 7.7 percent more than the previous levy. But he added that, due to the amount of growth in the tax base, the city's tax rate is decreasing. The 2002 tax rate was 24.611, and the estimated rate payable in 2003 is 24.236. Based on initial projections supplied by Wright County, the city will have the lowest tax rate in the county. Under revenues, Auger listed the following amounts: $634,372 from property taxes, $1.47 million from the state (LGA, Local Government Aid), $287,045 from permits and licenses, $1.025 million from transfers (of this, $300,000 is from the municipal liquor store, which goes directly to the Park Fund for children's programs), and $1.108 million from "other". The "other" figure comes from a variety of revenues, including building and miscellaneous permits, charges for services such as planning and zoning, miscellaneous police revenue and court fines, interest on general fund accounts, garbage, recycling, and storm sewer. Under expenditures, Auger listed the following amounts: $69,501 for the mayor and the council, $826,153 for administration and handling permits, planning, legal matters and an assessor contract, $112,119 for the city engineer, $1.318 million for the Police Department, $212,000 for the Fire Department, $1.06 million for the Street Department, and $991,557 for garbage/transfers to Parks, etc. The major expenditures include a $249,505 increase for the Police Department budget for increased personnel levels and increased debt levels for technology improvements. About $1.06 million is aimed at capital improvement spending to keep services up to date. Most of this is for the Electrical Department to keep the system up to date. A total of $1.13 million is for debt service. Fifteen percent of the total levy is for Park Department debt service, which includes funds okayed by the city's recent parks and trails referendum. Additional personnel are proposed for 2003, including a Police Department sergeant and a deputy administrator. Auger illustrated the effect of the city's levy on a typical home valued at $140,000 in 2002. The city's portion of the 2002 property tax on the house is $344. In 2003, the value of the house could increase to $154,000, and, based on the estimated tax rate for 2003, the city's portion of the property taxes could be $373, which is an increase of about $29. Auger explained that the average home in Wright County has increased in value ten percent in a year. Auger pointed out that the city is highly dependent on LGA (Local Government Aid funds from the state). Because the state is facing budget problems, there could be a cut in LGA. If that happens, Auger recommends a one-time reduction in street maintenance. He was asked by council member Del Haag what he would recommend if the street maintenance reduction was not enough to compensate for a drop in LGA. Auger said the Council would need to look at reducing capital improvements. << back to newspaper index |