06-23-2025 Agenda Packet Cc - Regular Meeting

Home Browse Search

PROFILE OF THE CITY (CONTINUED) natural amenities. Orono has an obligation to its resident to preserve and balance the lifestyles of lakeshore living and rural area. Due to the positive appeal of the community, Orono has a lack of undeveloped land and predominantly sees infill development. Under this plan, the City Council, composed of an elected mayor and four elected trustees or council members, exercises legislative authority and determines all matters of policy. The City Administrator, appointed by the City Council, is responsible for the proper administering of all affairs relating to the City. The City provides a variety of municipal services which include: police protection, fire protection, street maintenance, building inspection, planning, and zoning, public improvements, general administrative services, public water and sewer utilities, and a municipal golf course. The City of Orono adopts an annual budget for the General Fund, certain Special Revenue Funds, and Enterprise Funds. The Special Revenue Funds with adopted budget include the Parks Fund, Drug and Felony Forfeiture Fund and the Senior Housing TIF Fund. The Enterprise Funds with adopted budgets include the Water, Sewer, Recycling, Stormwater, Cable and Golf Funds. The City has established budgetary control at the department level. All departments submit requests for appropriation to the City Administrator and Finance Director by June of each year for the General Fund and by August for the Enterprise Funds. The Finance Director assigns appropriation to the Special Revenue Funds by August. The City Council is required to adopt a proposed General Fund budget and tax levy by September 30. The Council is required to schedule and hold a Truth in Taxation (TNT) public hearing. The council must adopt the final budget and tax levy no later than December 31. The council also adopts the yearly fee schedule and Capital Improvement Plan in December. LOCAL ECONOMY The City is in a strong financial position. Because of its strong residential tax base, and conservative fiscal philosophy, the City continued in 2024 to have a tax capacity rate that is one of the lowest in the county, ranking fourth in its bond rating of AAA since 2006 for all bond issues. LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING The Metropolitan Council requires all cities in the seven-county metropolitan area to have a Comprehensive Plan. The Metropolitan Council and state statutes require cities to update their plans every 10 years. The Orono Community Management Plan serves as a guide for orderly and economic private and public improvement. The scope of the plan is intended to include almost every factor that has been updated and approved by the City Council in 2019. In 2011, the City analyzed the condition of its street infrastructure. This information was used to develop a pavement management plan, which provides the basis for planning and funding street improvements. In 2012, this plan was incorporated into a comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP is 12 39