REVENUES/EXPENDITURES FOR 2003
PROPOSED TO INCREASE BY 6.7%
At a special meeting on Thursday, September 5th, city councilmembers passed a resolution approving a proposed annual city budget for the year 2003. 
According to Administrator Steve Sarvi, the bottom line is that Victoria residents will not see an increase in the city portion of their property taxes next year if home values remain static.  How-ever, he said, home values went up 11% this year and will probably continue to rise.
"The tax rate is less in 2003 than in 2002," said Steve.  "It's a formula deter-mined by the state and it's measured against property values."
"The city is spending less than the amount that the city is growing in value," he said.  "We try very hard to be keep spending in check, and we keep pace with inflation."
In making comparisons to the adopt-ed 2002 budget, total revenues and expen-ditures are proposed to increase by 6.37%, from $2,385,188 in 2002 to $2,537,108 in 2003.  The proposed breakdown for 2003 is as follows:

General Fund Operating Revenues
Revenues:

Gen. Fund Property Tax      $2,010,247.00
Licenses & Permits                $263,815.00
Inter-governmental Revenue    $32,889.00
Charges for Services              $207,282.50
Miscellaneous Revenue            $22,875.00
TOTAL REVENUES:              $2,537,108.50

Gen. fund Operating Expenditures
General Government:
Mayor/Council                         $16,240.95
Administration                        $361,145.50
Finance                                   $132,878.81
Elections                                     $5,022.95
Professional Services             $160,000.00
Planning and Zoning              $137,763.15
Government Building               $41,260.00
TOTAL General Gov't:          $854,311.36

Public Safety:
Police/Sheriff                          $120,000.00
Fire Protection                        $289,764.86
Bldg. Inspection Dept.            $125,657.50
Animal Control                           $5,000.00
TOTAL Public Safety            $540,422.36

Public Works:
General Maintenance/Streets $380,114.28
Snow Removal                           $8,500.00
Street Lighting                          $40,000.00
Signal Lights                            $56,600.00
Street Cleaning                           $2,500.00
Composting                                $4,500.00
TOTAL Public Works            $492,214.28

Parks & Recreation:
Recreation activities                   $9,382.50
Appropriation to Field House $250,000.00
Park and Recreation               $230,295.67
TOTAL Parks & Rec.            $489,678.17

Miscellaneous:
TOTAL Miscellaneous           $160,482.33
TOTAL EXPENDITURES:       $2,537,108.50


CITY OF VICTORIA LEVY FOR 2003
PROPOSED TO INCREASE BY 17%
On Thursday, September 5th, city councilmembers also passed a resolution stating the following ...

"Whereas the City of Victoria is de-pendent upon collection of a tax on real and personal property for a portion of the General Fund and Operating Budget and to pay Bonded Debt ...
"Now therefore be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Victoria hereby adopts the following tax levy for collection in 2003 upon the taxable prop-erty in said City of Victoria for the following purposes:

General Fund Levy              $1,867,662.00
(Victoria, Urban and Rural)
Diethelm Park Land Lease          $105,988
from EDA
(Victoria, Urban and Rural)
G.O. Refunding Bonds             $74,644.00
of the Year 2000
(Victoria, Urban and Rural)
Equipment Certificate              $27,544.00
Of the Year 2001
(Victoria, Urban and Rural)
Equipment Certificate            $193,108.00
Of the Year 2002
(Victoria, Urban and Rural               0
TOTAL CERTIFIED LEVY      $2,268,946.00

There are two taxing districts in Vic-toria.  Urban identifies streets, sewer, and water service at city standards.  Rural identifies fewer city services, perhaps gravel roads and not municipal water and sewer.

The General Fund Levy supports basic city services.  The other items are beyond basic.  For example, the Diethelm Park Land Lease is, as Administrator Steve Sarvi explained, "the city paying the city."  The Victoria City Council is the Economic Development Authority.  This money goes into ...

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