Stated Mayor Jerry Bohn, "I agree with Mary that our 200 new homes may be in jeopardy.  If we only build 150 homes next year, will we be $150,000 short ... plus we're spending another $100,000? ... I'm uncomfortable with spending the $100,000 from our Community Development fund.  We had a budget that works.  We spent $100,000 on hazardous waste cleanup downtown.  We've got to have money for this."  Such dollars come from the Community Devel-opment Fund.
Continued the mayor, "There are tens of thousands of dollars here [in the budget] for travel and training and also new computers.  Computers haven't changed that much these past five years.  They've got bigger hard drives and that's about it.  My recommendation would be to pass the preliminary budget, the budget we approved earlier."
That preliminary budget was ap-proved by the council in September, '04.
Newly elected councilmember Kim Roden, sitting in as an observer that evening, stated that with the company she works for, "For every dollar spent, we have to generate another $2 in revenue."
Councilmember Richard Tieden said he didn't find anything in the city budget that's "irresponsible" in an expanding city.
Councilmember Terry Bishop said that developers are very aware that the number of homes they'd like to build is at risk.  "We're still going to grow," he said, "but maybe not at the rate they'd like.  We've made assumptions based on a number of new homes.  We better have some rationale for that number ... It makes sense from a consistency standpoint with the water treatment plant, where we have a basis for 150 new homes." 
Stated Councilmember Dave Lind-gren, "At some point we're going to have to build a new City Hall and we're going to take a big hit in taxes with that."
Mayor Bohn acknowledged that most of the budget increase over last year is related to four or five big items, including increased police protection and increase in number of city employees.
At the end of the workshop there was a vote of 4-1 to reject the revision of the Finance Director and instead keep the city's operating expenditures as planned in the preliminary budget of September and plan for income from only 150 new homes next year.  Councilmember Tieden cast the lone dissenting vote.
Stated City Manager Steve Sarvi, "Give me a chance.  We'll work on it.  It'll probably mean a delay of some things ... We've added a lot of roads and Public Works needs more staff.  We need more men -- at least one -- in Public Works.  Maybe we could delay someone for build-ing inspection or planning."
The final budget must be approved before the end of the year.  Total expendi-tures for 2005 are projected to be $3,276,086 -- which is an increase of 35.5% over expenditures budgeted for 2004.  Total tax levy of $2,922,578 is 19.5% higher than the previous levy. 
A more detailed report on the budget can be found in the City Scoop pages of the October, 2004, issue of the Gazette which is located in The Archives at www.VictoriaGazette.com

OTHER CITY SCOOP FROM NOVEMBER
CITIES ASKING MNDOT FOR HIGHWAY 5 UPGRADE
*Along with other members of the Southwest Corridor Transportation Coali-tion, Victoria passed a resolution request-ing MnDOT support for upgrades and studies for the improvement of State Hwy 5 from Hwy 41 west to Norwood Young America.  Stated Mayor Bohn, "This is to start the process.  The first step is to get a map and that is what this will do, map the corridor.  There are some homes in the right of way, but most of it is vacant."  Carver County is projected to increase in population from 48,000 residents in 1990 to 154,540 in 2030.
*Council approved a monument sign with a brick base for the Holiday Station Store that bought Cenex in Victoria.  Mark reported that Holiday proposes to eliminate the three overhead doors and extend the convenience store operation.  The Planning Commission has asked Holiday to upgrade the exterior of the building. 
*The Metropolitan Council adopted a $100 increase in the Service Availability Charge.  The SAC rate will now be $1450 for all local governments, a fee collected by the City of Victoria upon issuance of building permits.
*Mayor Jerry Bohn reported on No-vember 8th that "almost every eligible voter in Victoria must have registered."  With a total population of around 5,500 and a voting tally of around 3,900, the mayor complimented City Clerk Jennifer Kretsch on smooth operation at the two polling sites and he thanked people for voting for him.
*Steve and Carol Anderson received a minor subdivision for the property locat-ed at 6525 Baycliffe Drive, whereby one parcel becomes two buildable lots, which allows for the construction of a home on the new lot.  This is the former George and Snip Steinberger property.
*Mount Olivet Church received ap-proval to install an internally illuminated monument sign at 7150 Rolling Acres Road.  The sign will identify the church and announce service times.
*Lundgren Brothers Construction re-ceived permission to install two monu-ment signs at the northwest and southwest corners of the intersection of County Road #11 and Red Fox Drive.  These signs will be introducing the new development called "Laketown."
*Steve Sarvi and Mark Kaltsas are looking into the possibility of a land trust whereby the city can start receiving land donations from the community for the purpose of having lots available in the city on which local builders can construct affordable housing units.
*Council approved the certification of delinquent sewer and water bills to the county auditor for collection with the 2005 property taxes.  The city charges the property owners 8% interest plus a $25 administrative fee.
*Council will hold a workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 6th, to discuss future workshop formats and to prepare for January's annual organization-al meeting when councilmembers are appointed to represent the city on various committees and commissions.  Also, five applicants for the Victoria Planning Com-mission will also be interviewed at that  time.
*Council approved a new methodolo-gy for assigning ice times at the Victoria Field House with the hockey associations from Minnetonka, Chaska, Waconia, and Holy Family, that will be more consistent and equitable to all.
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