After a year's absence, City Administrator Steve Sarvi, center, came home from National Guard Duty in Kosovo and he's been seen hanging around again with Victoria folks.  Welcome home, Steve.

REVENUES/EXPENDITURES FOR 2005
PROPOSED TO INCREASE BY 35.5%

On September 9th, councilmembers approved a proposed General Fund Oper-ating Budget for calendar year 2005 that is close to a million dollars higher than the budget approved for 2004.  Total expendi-tures and revenues projected in the budget for 2004 amounted to $2,417,419.  They are projected to be $3,276,086 in 2005.
As reported last month in the Gazette, three of the larger budget items included a renovated and more expensive policing system in Carver County, higher engineer-ing and legal fees for the city, and three new city employees. 
Cost of the Sheriff's contract is projected to grow in 2005 by over 90%.  Professional service fees are projected to grow in 2005 by over 60%.  Building inspection costs are projected to grow in 2005 by over 90%.
Insurance costs and capital outlays also show larger than average increases.  And city streets will be getting over 35% more maintenance dollars in 2005.
There is a corresponding increase in city revenue, much of it from building permit fees, plumbing permits, mechani-cal permits.  Plan check fees are proposed to go from $151,250 budgeted in 2004 to $280,000 budgeted for 2005.  The amount of city taxes proposed to be collected in 2005 is increasing by over $100,000.  In-crease in number of residents paying taxes keeps individual taxes from increasing.

PROPOSED FOR 2005
General Fund Operating Revenues
General Fund Property Tax      $2,327,292
Licenses and Permits                   $512,790
Inter-Governmental Revenue        $45,513
Charges for Services                   $373,216
Miscellaneous Revenue                 $17,275

TOTAL REVENUES                 $3,276,086

PROPOSED FOR 2005
General Fund Operating Expenditures
General Government
Mayor/Council                              $16,491
Administration                             $392,641
Finance                                        $148,620
Elections                                          $1,650
Professional Services                  $257,750
Planning and Zoning                   $208,561
Government Building                    $30,525
TOTAL General Gov't             $1,056,238

Public Safety
Police/Sheriff                               $214,141
Fire Protection                             $284,731
Building Inspection Dept.           $250,429
Civil Defense                                      $600
Animal Control                                   $650
TOTAL Public Safety                  $750,551

Public Works
General Maintenance/Streets      $544,519
Snow Removal                                $8,000
Street Lighting                               $42,500
Signal Lights                                   $1,200
Composting                                     $6,000
TOTAL Public Works                 $602,219

Parks & Recreation
Recreation Activities                     $12,900
Appropriation to Field House      $250,000
Parks and Recreation                   $182,660
TOTAL Park & Rec                    $445,560

Miscellaneous                              $421,518
TOTAL EXPENDITURES        $3,276,086

Click here for more budget news.