12-01-1993 Council Minutes2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF TIIF: 1994 BUDGET HEARING CITY OF ORONO HELD DECEMBER I. 1993 Moorse compared the City of Orono’s lax rate with other cities of Hennepin County with populations over 2.000. Orono was ranked the 4lh lowest in 1993 and would be Lie 3rd lowest in 1994. Moorse discussed tlie staffing and compensation levels. 'Fhere has been little change in the last few years Hie number of patrol officers and maintenance workers compnse significant numbers of the total employees. He noted that in 1992 there were 11 patrol officers and 3 lieutenants In 1993 that chanced when a lieutenant position was eliminated and a patrol olticer was added to increase strength on the street. He also pointed out that the temporary- part-time employee numbers change due to elections (judges) in election years. Moorse explained a chart relating to employee compensation. Tlie enterprise fund is funded by fees and not taxes. There is only a 1.5% total compensation increa.se (wages and benefits) trom 1993 to 1994. The Truth and Taxation law requires the City to provide a list of independent contractors .Moorse indicated that in the City’s piosecuiion serv-ices. Orono is cooperatmg with severa o Fire protection is provided by four neighboring cities - .Maple Plain. Mound. L*)ng Uke a Wayzaia. A number of maintenance and repair contractors were also listed. Hun asked Ihiw Moorse arrived at the ranking of Orono's tax rate since other cities are also in Ihe potcess of budget hearings. Moorse responded that this information was provided from the County on "proposed" budgets. Mayor Callahan noted the police department is the major cost of mnnmg me jpr^ one-third of me budeet. This is a service mat ts also contracted out to Lhe cities o. .vlinnetonlu Beach. Long Lake and Spring Park so mere is some revenue generated from mese contracts amounting to one-third to one-half of me police budget. Mavor Callahan reiterated that the major increase in levy is due to a an increase in costs. The decrease in revenues was caused partly because of me new Funds were being accumulated for the building and the iniercst used tor me general is has changed because money has bee;, spent from m ^'kept’m the interest rates have dropped. Now the interest trom me building hind needs to be kept in building fund to assure mere is funding for the bond payments. Mayor Callahan explained mat the 1992 sewer bonds are tor the Stubbs Bay !l!e clt, r^on ot the cost of the sewer He commued that m recent years Ute Cry has __