HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Process Nov. 29 Workshop
Contact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Marketing Director
Phone 952-833-9520 • Fax 952-826-0389 • Web www.CityofEdina.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Residents encouraged to weigh in on proposed 2012 City
budget at Nov. 29 workshop
Citizens League to lead another meeting for public participation
Edina, Minn., Nov. 18, 2011 -- Based on the success of three previous meetings, the public is
encouraged to weigh in on the City of Edina’s 2012 budget at another one led by the Citizens League.
The nonpartisan Citizens League led three meetings in early November to hear from residents. At the
workshops, the City budget was described and people had the opportunity to ask questions of City
officials. They were also asked to weigh in on the principles that should guide property taxes; how
City amenities such as the ice arena, art center and parks should be funded; and overall budget
priorities.
The fourth meeting will be structured similarly. The meeting will be held 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday,
Nov. 29, at Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive.
In September, the City Council set the maximum tax levy for 2012. The preliminary General Fund
expenditure budget prepared by City Manager Scott Neal is $30,604,436. The preliminary
expenditure budget for the General Fund, the equipment replacement program within the
Construction Fund, and all debt levies is $36,440,420.
Neal prepared the draft budget with several goals in mind, including stabilizing City operations and
employee headcount, keeping tax increases manageable during a challenging economy and maximizing
use of available unreserved fund balances.
The City’s current unreserved fund balance is nearly $2.5 million. Neal has proposed transferring
$700,000 to the Construction Fund and spending $100,000 to re-codify local ordinances, $100,000 to
modernize human resources operations and $100,000 to respond to findings of a recent
compensation study. The rest of the money would be used to restructure the City’s debt and provide
property tax relief.
Total of all levies would increase by $462,009, or 1.8 percent. The 1.8 percent increase would be the
maximum property tax increase the City could levy. However, expenditures and revenues could
change before final budget adoption.
A public hearing on the budget and levy will be held Dec. 6. The Council will act on the budget and
levy at its meeting Dec. 20.
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