Victoria MN Newspaper-City Scoop

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Asked Councilmember Joe Pavelko, "Can you explain what a cardholder is?"

Replied Mr. Dismassis, "It is someone who is in our system. If someone hasn't used a card in five years, we take them off our system. We have trends and we can make assumptions. The atmosphere has a positive effect on people who walk into a library."

He said that the Express Library in Victoria, located at the Victoria Recreation Center, has increased to 5,000 check-out items in 2013. Of the three Express Libraries, also located in Mayer and Cologne, Victoria's location is the busiest.

Said Councilmember Pavelko, "Our job is to look at budgets and expenses. We have libraries close to us. How do we justify the expense for Victoria? Snowplow trucks are truly government's essential services."

Carver County Commissioner Randy Maluchnik then rose to speak at the podium. "Some people are supporters of regional libraries. There is a direct relationship between community libraries and literacy. Libraries are important for preschoolers and they also have a significant effect on adult literacy. Libraries are a pretty safe bet ... It's cheaper for us to buy books as a group, so all parents don't have to. Benjamin Franklin came up with this idea. A library is a cornerstone if not a pillar of democracy. Libraries are a good value for the county."

Said Councilmember Pavelko, "I don't think a library creates literacy."

VICTORIA MAY LEAVE THE LMCC

VIDEO SERVICES CAN BE DONE IN-HOUSE

The question is, Will the City of Victoria remain a member of the Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission?

On August 26th the Victoria City Council continued comment on the possibility of leaving. The LMCC continues to increase fees to its 17 members cities. Medina and Orono have already dropped out and Minnestrista is considering it, said City Manager Don Uram.

Mr. Uram estimates the amount needed from the City of Victoria for the LMCC to meet its 2014 budget is $75,000. In addition to taping council meetings, the LMCC collects the franchise fees and public education and government fees, and manages the franchise agreement with Mediacom.

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "With cities leaving the LMCC, it's impossible for them to stay in business and meet their budget. The option of staying with the LMCC becomes more and more difficult. It's almost an impossible business model. September 24th is when the LMCC does its budget. There are so many moving parts. By the end of September we should be able to make some meaningful decisions."

Mayor O'Connor said that the money Victoria citizens pay to the LMCC could instead be paid to the City of Victoria who could subcontract services such as the transmission of city council meetings via Cable TV and the Internet, at less cost.

City Manager Don Uram pointed out that the city's contract with the LMCC was drafted over 30 years ago. He said there are now 1,200 homes in Victoria that have MediaCom.

Said Councilmember Jim Crowley, "The City of Victoria is big enough now so we can bring some savings by doing things in-house. Cost structures are changing so much." A decision needs to be made by October 15th.

PRELIMINARY 2014 BUDGET NUMBERS

CREEPING UPWARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2009

Council held a workshop on Monday evening, August 12th, to look at preliminary 2014 budget numbers presented by Kelly Grinnell, Victoria Finance Manager. The budget and the Long Term Financial Plan assumes 75 new home permits annually, an increase of 2.5% in revenue (non building permits), an increase of 3.5% in expenditures, an increase of 2.5% in home value, bonding for street reconstruction projects on an annual basis, plus $6 million in capital facilities bonds for a new City Hall and Public Works building.

Kelly projected the hiring of one new Public Works employee in 2014 and one new dump truck. The Public Works Department has been down one person since 2009. Public Works Director Ann Mahnke said she has relied on overtime to accommodate the increases in workload.

The finance manager said there will also be election costs in 2014 because it's an election year. She said the police contract with the Carver County Sheriff's Department is projected to increase by 30%.

There were other expenses headlined in the 2014 overview. "Most staff in Victoria is underpaid compared to other cities our size," said Kelly. "We are proposing a 3% wage increase in 2014." She added that there will be a 17.25% increase in the cost of health care benefits.

Total city revenues projected for 2014: $3,932,668 (compared to $3,611,732 budgeted for 2013). Total city expenditures projected for 2014: $3,858,094 (compared to $3,581,730 budgeted for 2013).

Click here for more Budget Numbers.