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c.attached. <br />C <br />Tax Levy <br />The total tax levy required to ftind the proposed 2005 budget is $3,461,670. I his is an increase of <br />$263,740, or 8.25 % over the 2004 levy. Tlie breakout of the use of tax levy revenues by fund is shown <br />on the attached chart titled Tax Levies. Tlie General Fund expenditures have the greatest impact on the <br />proposed tax levy. In addition, the Infrastructure levy in the PIR Fund (for street rehabilitation) has <br />been increased from $35,940 to $85,950. <br />The tax levy required to fund the proposed 2005 General Fund budget is $2,990,470. This is an <br />increase of $339,240, or 12.8% over the 2004 levy amount. Of this amount, $125,000 is not a levy <br />increase, but rather is a shifting of tax levy from the Improv ement and Equipment Outlay Fund to the <br />General Fund. Excluding the $125,000 of expenditures shifted to the General Fund, the levy increase <br />is $214,240, or 8.1%. <br />Although the General Fund tax levy is proposed to increase substantially, the funding will address a <br />number of high priority needs, which will provide substantial benefits in terms of increased service <br />levels, productivity, customer service, consultant assistance regarding tlie Highway 12 turnback, and a <br />jump start to the Navarre streetscaping project. <br />Tax Capacity Rate and Impact ol the Tax Levy on Property Owners <br />Although the County has not yet prov ided an estimate of the City’s tax capacity, based on the annual <br />property revaluation conducted by the County Assessor, it is estimated that the City's tax capacity (or <br />tax base) has increased by approximately 10%. Applying the proposed tax levy- to the estimated tax <br />capacity results in a tax rate of 17.378“/i, which is a slight reduction from the 2004 level of 17.599 %. <br />Using this tax rate, the City’s share of the property tax bill on a home valued at $300,000, assuming a <br />5% value increase, will increase by $$ 18.18, or 3.4%. For a home valued at $800,000, the City's share <br />of the property tax bill will increase by $$48.47, or 3.4%. <br />Police Stalling <br />The Police Department has identitled the need for three additional officers. These include a second <br />investigator, a narcotics investigator, and a patrol olTicer. I hc proposed 2005 budget reflects the <br />addition of the investigator position. <br />The Department’s current investigative caseload is too large for one officer. Other Departments of <br />Orono’s si/e (and smaller) have two investigators, (i.e.Mound, Excelsior). The Depanment’s greatest <br />criticism from citizens during the past three y ears has been about poor follow-up on case reports. T he <br />investigator is much more effective when he has a partner who can back him up on .stime interv iews and <br />investigations When the School Liaison Officer was available during the summer to assist in <br />investigations, the clearance rate increased and many more cases received inv esligativv attention. The