HomeMy WebLinkAbout8A Proposed 2012 City Budgets and Property Tax Levieshi �e
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4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, NN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
DECEMBER 5, 2011
AGENDA #:
8A
PREPARED BY:
FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER
JERILYN ERICKSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR
PRESENTER:
FRANK BOYLES
AGENDA ITEM:
PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED 2012 CITY BUDGETS AND
PROPERTY TAX LEVIES
DISCUSSION:
Introduction
The 2009 Legislature made some significant changes to the Truth in
Taxation (TNT) process for 2010 and beyond. At the September 6, 2011
meeting during which the City Council considered a proposed 2012 budget
and tax levy, the Council was required to announce the time and place of
the council meeting at which the 2012 budget and levy would be discussed
and which would allow for citizen input. It was announced and included in
the meeting minutes that a public hearing on the proposed 2012 budget
would take place on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 7:00 pm.
The requirement for publishing a TNT notice in the Prior Lake American
was repealed. In lieu of publication, the announcement of the time and
place of the public hearing was required. In addition property owners
received parcel specific Truth in Taxation notices which included the date
and time of hearing for each taxing jurisdiction including the city.
Current Circumstances
The purpose for the public hearing tonight is to provide information to the
public regarding the City's proposed 2012 operating budgets and the
amount of property taxes that the City proposes to collect in 2012. Also, it
is an opportunity for residents to ask questions or comment on the budget
and those services that are important to them.
The public must be given a reasonable amount of time to comment and /or
ask questions. Robert's Rules of Order may be used to govern the conduct
of the meeting.
Staff will provide a brief presentation with respect to the proposed 2012
budgets for the General Fund, Debt Service Funds, Equipment Revolving
Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Water Quality Fund, Transit Fund and the
Economic Development Authority. The City Council will have an
opportunity to ask questions, after which the Truth -in- Taxation hearing
should be opened.
Any written comments submitted prior to the hearing are to be entered into
the official record.
C,1Documents and Settingslcgreeffly Documents\SharePoint Drafts\TNT Public Hearing - Agenda Report - 2011.12.05.doc
If all those wishing to do so have had the opportunity to speak then the City
Council should close the hearing recognizing that final action on these
matters are presently scheduled for December 19, 2011.
If all public comments and concerns cannot be addressed tonight, the
public hearing could be continued until 7:00 p.m. Monday, December 19,
2011. The final budgets and property tax levy would then be considered
for approval by the City Council on that evening following completion of
comments or before December 27, 2011 as part of a special meeting the
city council could schedule. By Minnesota Statute the final property tax
levy amount must be certified to the Scott County Auditor's Office no later
than 5 working days after December 20 (December 28, 2011).
ISSUES: This hearing is the primary opportunity for the public to comment or ask
questions about the proposed 2012 budgets and tax levies. Accordingly,
the PowerPoint presentation has been distributed to those in attendance
and is intended to provide a high level view of the various budgets.
The staff has also considerably shortened the budget message in an effort
to clear the stage as it were for the public to speak rather than listen to staff
comments for as much as an hour.
It is suggested that the city council solicit and record resident questions
during the public portion of the meeting. Once everyone wishing to speak
has had a chance to, then the staff can respond to the questions and
council members can ask additional questions or append onto responses
already made. This format will provide council members and staff to have a
reasonable and informative discussion which should enhance the public's
understanding of the budgets and tax levies.
ALTERNATIVES: The following alternatives are available to the City Council:
1. If all questions have been answered, close the public hearing and
direct the Staff to place this item on the December 19, 2011 City
Council agenda for final action.
2. Continue the public hearing until December 19, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. if
there are questions that cannot be answered on December 5.
RECOMMENDED Motion to either close the public hearing or continue the hearing to 7:00
MOTION: P.M., Monday December 19, 2011. If the hearing is adjourned then the
date, time and place for the levy and budget adoption meeting (Monday
7:00 p.m. December 19, 2011) must be announced.
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