|
Chanhassen * 952-934-5659 |
|
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 |
|
Drs. Dungey, Menser & Associates Victoria and Waconia. 952-443-2816 |
|
Specialized assisted living for those with memory challenges. Victoria. 952-908-2215 |
|
Island View Dining Waconia. 952-442-2956 |
|
Leuthner Well Company Victoria * 952-443-2582 |
|
CORNERSTONE INSURANCE AGENCY INC. David Barsness, CPCU Victoria 952-448-5028 |
|
Take the worry out of winter.. Call 1-888-41-SEPTIC. |
|
Mount Olivet Church-West Campus Victoria 952-474-1148 |
|
City Scoop Continued |
|
Dedicated to the sunshine of truth, the moonshine of meeting deadlines, and the starshine of Victoria. |
|
BUDGET NUMBERS CONTINUE TO DROP NOT FORMALLY ADOPTED UNTIL DECEMBER 8TH Council held another budget workshop on November 24th, preparing for the final 2015 city budget which will be adopted in December. Finance Manager Kelly Grinnell led the workshop with pie charts and graphs, referring especially to changes made since the preliminary budget was adopted in September. Stated Councilmember Jim Crowley, "It's been tremendous working with you, in terms of understanding things. When we ask questions, you get to the point. I appreciate it." Kelly said the proposed 2015 revenues are now projected to total $3,891,521 which is a decrease of $25,405 from the preliminary budget. Approximately 76% of revenue is from taxes and franchise fees. Expenditures and transfers were decreased by $19,826 to $3,884,072. Largest expenditure (32%) is for Public Works and, said Kelly, includes dollar transfers to the capital equipment fund. These numbers brought the projected 2015 General Fund levy down from $2,887,000 to to $2,856,000. "General fund revenues have been basically flat since 2012," said Kelly. Proposed levy for the Recreation Center ($160,000) is unchanged from the preliminary September levy. Most revenue (58%) comes from charges for serves and included lease dollars from School District 112. "The school district reimburses us for 70 to 80% of operating expense," said Kelly. Most Rec Center expenditures (44%) are for debt service. Total projected Levy for 2015 -- which includes General Fund levy, Rec Center levy, and General Obligation Bonds -- is now proposed to be $4,100,800 which is down $41,000 from the preliminary levy. Said Kelly, "The levy decreased every year from 2009 to 2013. Now it is up slightly." The projected tax rate for 2015 is 33.4%. Projected city taxes on a median value home amount to $1,150, up $24 from 2014. Tax rate history has been trending downward except for a blimp "largely due to the economy and fall in market values." "Every home saw a decrease in taxes in 2014," said Kelly. "Most people will see an increase in 2015, mainly due to the increase in market values." As for utility funds, she reported that no rate increase is planned for municipal water, and core revenues exceeded expectations because of all the new plats and lots. A new well ($1.5 million) is planned for 2016 and also 2019. "We should have enough cash in reserves to pay for that," said Kelly. A sewer rate increase is planned in 2015, however. The Metropolitan Council is increasing its charge to Victoria by $67,714. "Their charge is based strictly on the amount of flow going into their system," said Kelly. A lift station is also being renovated in 2015 at an approximate cost of $150,000. No rate increase is planned for stormwater management. City Engineer Cara Geheren said, however, "Nearly 100 stormwater ponds will be needing major improvements. That's sort of hanging out there for us." An expenditure of $70,000 in 2015 will pay for a mini-excavator to beginning some of those improvements. Capital improvements for 2015 are estimated to total $7,281,557 including $2.9 for a water reservoir. The final budget hearing is scheduled for the December 8th city council meeting at 6:30 p.m.
UPDATE ON NEW VICTORIA BUILDINGS CITY HALL/LIBRARY & PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY November 10th City Engineer Cara Geheren reported the current move-in date for the new City-Hall is the middle of January 2015 -- actually, Monday, January 19th, Martin Luther King Junior Day. "A lot of work is being done," she said. "Sheet rock is going on inside. The exterior back side of the building is done. We're waiting for the delivery of some windows. Now is a good time to tour the building and get a feel for the location of things. Even with the change orders, the building is within budget. One of the change orders was to furnish and install additional steel beams and a column at the front lobby ($23,234). Another was to construct exterior concrete between City Hall and the Lakeside building, plus concrete in open areas in front of the City Hall building ($20,179).
November 24th Said Cara,"The City Hall is overall trending within budget. A lot of the outside 'structural elements' have been removed and you can now actually see the building." Said Ann Mahnke, Director of Parks and Public Works, "The Public Works facility is really approaching completion. We're hoping to start moving in equipment the first week of December. We are on track and it's exciting. There's heat!"
|
|
The Victoria GAZETTE |
|
November 2014 |
|
December 2014 |
