|
Island View Dining Waconia. 952-442-2956 |
|
Chaska School of Dance Mary Pieper 952-873-6781 |
|
MVT Excavating No job is too small. 952-446-9341 |
|
Weinzierl Jewelers |
|
Waconia 952-442-2885 |
|
“Trees Are Our Roots” 8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990 |
|
Headlines and bylines |
|
Front Page Feature Story |
|
From the Editor |
|
Addie’s Drawing |
|
Letters to the Editor |
|
Victoria Moments |
|
Hook Line & Sinker |
|
Calendar of Events |
|
Click here to Advertise |
|
the Gazette |
|
Return to Home Page |
|
Order paper Gazette |
|
Notes and Quotes |
|
The Scoop at City Hall |
|
Home Page |
|
The Victoria GAZETTE |
|
Sue’s Album A symphony of photos and fewer than a thousand words at www.VictoriaGazette.com |
|
December 2012 |
|
VICTORIA CONSERVATIVE ON EXPENDITURES FINANCE MANAGER KELLY GRINNELL APPLAUDED At a workshop on November 13th, Council made adjustments in the proposed 2013 budget and levy for the City of Victoria in order to maintain a tax rate of 39.5%, which is equal to the 2012 tax rate. Council had adopted the preliminary budget and levy in September. The final budget and levy will be adopted in December, most likely at the December 10th city council meeting which is slated to be the final city council meeting of the year because of Christmas. When Victoria annexed 495 acres of Laketown Township located south of Lake Wasserman in 2011, it annexed rural service district parcels, and such parcels have a lower tax capacity than urban parcels. This increased the city's anticipated tax rate. Cuts of $39,000 in the proposed budget, however, will maintain the tax rate. *** Total preliminary levy for 2013 is now $3,947,646 which is a bigger decrease of 2.54% below the 2012 levy, or a decrease of $102,846 in actual dollars. It was pointed out that the levy has decreased each of the last four years. Total expenditures for 2013 are projected to be $3,581,730 which is 2.65% lower than in the adopted 2012 budget. Total revenues for 2013 are projected to be $3,611,730 which is 1.83% lower than in the adopted 2012 budget. As Finance Director Kelly Grinnell pointed out, 80% of revenues for the General Fund come from property taxes. Total revenues for 2013 are projected to be $3,611,730 which is nearly 2% lower than in the adopted 2012 budget. According to charts and information from Kelly, most of the "character" expenditures (39%) are for wages and benefits. Another chunk (29%) is for contracted services and utilities. Most of the "function" expenditures are for general government (30%), public works (30%), public safety (24%). The budget projected $80,100 in general fund capital improvements in 2013. The list included playground replacement ($25,000), brine tank ($15,500), paint sprayer ($7,000), bobcat trade-in (annual $3,500), bobcat attachments ($8,000), infrastructure ($12,000). Capital improvements in the water budget include $233,000 for extending the Wasserman trunk utility and $15,000 for a security system for the Water Treatment Plant. "We're working now on when we may need more water usage storage," said Kelly. "We are expecting more water usage in 2013. That's two years in a row now." She pointed out that the bulk of water budget revenues (78%) is projected to come from charges for services. The largest water budget expense (54%) is for debt service on the Water Treatment Plant. In regard to the 2013 sewer budget, Kelly said, "We will have adequate cash reserves." She pointed out that the bulk (87%) of sewer budget revenues comes from charges for services, while the bulk (57%) of sewer budget expenses comes from capital outlay, and another big chunk (32%) for contractual services, "mainly from the Metropolitan Council." "We will continue to renovate our lift stations," said Kelly. "We are also working with Carver County on a cost sharing program like with the street sweeper, which dropped expenses by nearly half." In regard to the stormwater utility, Kelly said, "We have no debt service with this fund. We currently charge $13/quarter regardless of use. No rate increases are planned. We expect adequate cash reserves but that could change, depending on MPCA rules." She said the purchase in 2015 of a mini-excavator costing $70,000 will allow staff to perform more work in-house and lower contracted cost.
|
|
CLICKSTART 952-902-2014 |
|
952-474-7377 |
|
Waconia 952-442-8787 |
|
Victoria Bar & Grill Home of the Blue Dog 952-443-2542 |
