|
REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 27, 2010
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />accessibility throughout the community, values, pedestrians, and is integrated locally and
<br />regionally. He noted that we are proud stewards of the natural environment, preserving
<br />the St. Joseph River as a valuable resource and cherishing out parks and plentiful green
<br />spaces. Mr. Zientara noted that the City has eight (8) goals that focus on the economy,
<br />safety, quality of life, trust, responsiveness, infrastructure, finance and workforce. He
<br />noted the 2010 accomplishments that the City has withstood negative effects of circuit
<br />breaker property tax reform through reduced spending, conservative fiscal policy, local
<br />option income tax increases, and fiscally responsible behavior. All city services, all parks
<br />& recreation programs, all parks facilities, all code enforcement activities, police staffing
<br />at full force, fire staffing at full force were achieved without disruption. Economic
<br />development progress highlighted by Eddy Commons development and progress at
<br />Innovation and Ignition Parks. He noted that the stage is set for efficiency improvements
<br />in city infrastructure back office operations. Mr. Zientara stated that a new payroll
<br />system that is “state of the art” will be implemented in the next few weeks. He advised
<br />that they are getting rid of the manual processes that have been in place for a number of
<br />years. Mr. Zientara stated that in concert with City Goals & Objectives, City 2011
<br />Budget priorities are: 1. Fund projects intended to lead to economic improvement; 2.
<br />Provide excellent public safety services (police & fire protection) to all city stakeholders
<br />(i.e. citizens, businesses, taxpayers, visitors); 3. Provide excellent quality of life services
<br />via Parks & Recreation, Arts & Culture opportunities, Human Rights protection to all city
<br />stakeholders; 4. Provide transparent disclosure to all city stakeholders; 5. Continue to
<br />improve City responsiveness, efficiency, effectiveness benefiting all city stakeholders; 6.
<br />Continue to strive for improvement in City infrastructure (i.e. roads & streets, solid waste
<br />collection service, quick response to storm damage clean-up, customer service, citizen
<br />friendly environment, “state of the art” back office city operations, ecologically friendly
<br />wastewater operations); 7. Maintain strong & financially stable city financial condition;
<br />8. Continue to value the human resource “asset” of all city employees (bargaining &
<br />non-bargaining) who are the day to day leaders that drive delivery of all required,
<br />necessary, desired and offered services to all city stakeholders. Mr. Zientara advised that
<br />the City budget is a diverse and dynamic document (subject to change) and is divided
<br />into six (6) segregated “sections” 1. General Fund; 2. Special Revenue Funds; 3. Debt
<br />Service & Capital Funds; 4. Enterprise Funds; 5. Internal Service Funds; 6. Trust &
<br />Agency Funds and that the Common Council is the approval body required for each fund
<br />within the city budget. The General Fund is constructed of general government, public
<br />safety, code enforcement, public works, engineering, energy conservation, maintenance,
<br />traffic & lighting, human rights, arts & culture. The General Fund expenditures provide
<br />funding for the aforementioned city operations. General fund revenues are derived from
<br />the following sources: property tax, other taxes (auto excise, commercial vehicle, liquor,
<br />cigarette, gaming, and financial institutions), license fees & fines (business, court &
<br />public records, fines & violations), fees for services, internal city transfers for services.
<br />He noted that there are thirty-three (33) Special Revenue Funds, including parks &
<br />recreation, rainy day, excess levy, motor vehicle highway, grant funds, CED funds,
<br />various police & law enforcement funds, public safety LOIT, local roads & streets,
<br />various fire protection funds. Fund expenditures provide funding for projects &
<br />expenditures of these fund operations. Revenues are derived from a variety of sources
<br />including Grants, other taxes, fees for services, fines & violations, property tax revenue
<br />for Parks & Recreation. Mr. Zientara advised that Debt Service & Capital Fund (16
<br />funds) including Hall of Fame debt service, EMS Fire capital, professional sports
<br />development, Coveleski Stadium capital, Zoo Endowment, COIT, Cumulative Capital
<br />Development (CCD), improvement, EDIT, Major Moves, Morris Capital, Palais
<br />Preservation, Hall of Fame Capital, CREED, fund expenditures and provide funding for
<br />projects & expenditures of these fund operations. Revenues are derived from a variety of
<br />sources including fees for services/income tax & other tax revenues, property tax revenue
<br />for CCD & Hall of Fame debt. Mr. Zientara stated that there are twenty-five (25)
<br />Enterprise Funds representing the “business” operations including Building Department,
<br />Parking Garages, Solid Waste, Water Works, Wastewater & Sewage Works, and Century
<br />Center. Funds are self sustaining with no city fund taxpayer support. Revenues are
<br />derived from fees for services (i.e. building & construction, fees, parking fees, utility fees
<br />for garbage collection, water usage and waste/sewer fees, user fees at the Century
<br />Center.) Expenditures are those business type expenditures required to “run” the
<br />business operations. There are four (4) Internal Service Funds including Central
<br /> 5
<br />
<br />
|