However, according to Victoria Fi-nance Director Jylan Johnson, it is antici-pated that the Carver County Assessor will be increasing market valuations by approximately 10%.  This increase in market valuation increases the amount of property tax paid even when the city is able to maintain a steady tax rate.
City tax paid on a $350,000 home in Victoria in 2006 was approximately $1,330.  The city tax would remain at $1,330 in 2007 if the home did not in-crease in market value for 2007.  But with the projected increase in market valuation, that city tax in 2007 will most likely approximate $1,440.
As Mayor Jerry Bohn stated, "There will be an increase in city taxes due to home valuations."
Speaking of the 2007 budget, the Finance Director, stated, "In the past we budgeted for 150 new homes.  This time we're budgeting for 79, including 35 single family homes and 44 townhomes."
Overall General Fund expenditures are proposed to increase from 2006 to 2007 by $370,180.  The increase is necessary, said Jylan, for several reasons.
*Another city staff person is neces-sary to manage infrastructure growth related to the new water treatment plant and related responsibilities.  Proposed salary and benefits approximate $90.000.
*A Community Service Officer is needed to help with zoning issues and animal control.
*One half of a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) person is needed to help the Sher-iff's Department with the very late hours of patrol and service in Victoria.
*The Victoria Fire Department hour-ly rate for fire calls and training will in-crease from $5.15 and $6.75 to $8/hour.
*Increased costs will occur for interim city administration, grounds main-tenance and landscaping, with increases in employees wages and benefits. 
*A transportation study will cost approximately $50,000.
Jylan reported that the Victoria Field House Budget for 2007 requires an addi-tional $93,284 in transfer from the city's General Fund operating budget - bringing the total transfer amount to $367,667 - plus a continuation of park improvement fees to pay portions of indebtedness.
The increased transfer at the Field House is necessary for several reasons including the fact there has been a 27% decrease in memberships from a year ago. [See the related article on these pages.]
Proposed total operating budget (ex-penditures and revenue) for the Field House for 2007 is $1,066,288.  For 2006 that number was $1,073,179. 

The Finance Director reported on August 24^th that the city's taxable market value increased from $789,642,000 for pay 2006, to an estimated taxable market value of $938,955,900 for pay 2007.  This is an 18.91% increase - 11% due to market value appreciation and 9% due to new development.
The Finance Director reported that the median market valuation of a home in Victoria is $356,100 for 2007, which is an 8% increase.
Jylan also clarified, "The overall mar-ket value appreciation is approximately 10% and includes all property types - single family homes, condos, commercial.  Although the average median home in-creased by 8%, some properties increased by more or less than 8%."

PROPOSED FOR 2007
General Fund Operating Revenues
General Fund Property Tax .... $3,050,947
Licenses and Permits ................. $252,845
Inter-Governmental Revenue .... $103,986
Charges for Services ................. $227,856
Miscellaneous Revenue ..............  $32,000
TOTAL REVENUES           $3,667,634

PROPOSED FOR 2007
General Fund Operating Expenditures
General Government
Mayor/Council .............................$16,467
Administration ............................$501,744
Finance .......................................$175,557
Elections .........................................$2,065
Professional Services .................$276,272
Planning and Zoning ..................$240,661
Government Buildings .................$29,610
TOTAL General Gov't     $1,242,376

Public Safety
Police/Sheriff ..............................$252,310
Fire Protection ............................$332,820
Building Inspection Dept ...........$222,752
Civil Defense .....................................$600

Animal Control ...............................$2,500

TOTAL Public Safety          $810,982

Click here to continue 2007 Victoria Budget.