HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/03/1997CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
March 3, 1997
5:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Jordan, Murphy, Getty, Anders, Krizek, Mayor Rooff.
Members absent: Mollenhoff, Collier.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Murphy to approve the agenda as proposed. Ayes: Five.
Absent: Mollenhoff, Collier. Motion carried.
Administrative Director Bob Stevenson reviewed the list of recommendations from the
Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board on the disbursement of
hotel/motel tax revenue in fiscal year 1998. The amount of funding dedicated to be used
at the Five Sullivan Convention Center for capital improvements was increased to
$150,000 this year. The committee recognized the extensive needs the center is facing for
building maintenance and improvements. The committee would also recommend that the
City look at establishing a separate tax levy to support the convention center as allowed in
State law.
Terry Poe Buschkamp, Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau, explained that the
amount distributed as specific grants was far less this year due to the additional funding
provided to the Five Sullivan Center. Poe Buschkamp noted that additional funds have
been dedicated to the Greater Waterloo Foundation for re -granting through the
Convention & Visitors Bureau. Grants of up to $1,000 are available to non-profit
organizations who are bidding or planing an event from the Convention & Visitors
Advisory Board. Jim Lawrence, Chamber Director, explained that the Greater Waterloo
Foundation was established as a 501(3)c non-profit organization to accept tax deductible
contributions. The foundation's mission covers any activity which promotes economic
development or betterment of the city.
Anders asked if there had been many comments on the decrease in funding
appropriations. Terry Poe Buschkamp stated that she has received several phone calls but
the organizations were understanding when she identified the needs at the convention
center.
Moved by Anders, seconded by Murphy to submit the recommendations from the
Waterloo Convention and Visitors Advisory Board for full council approval on March
10t. Ayes: Five. Absent: Mollenhoff, Collier. Motion carried.
Mayor Rooff reviewed the proposed fiscal year 1998 budget with the city council.
Substantial increases are seen in the area of public safety due primarily to the loss of the
federal hiring grant revenue for the police department and full funding for opening Fire
Station 6 is budgeted in general operations. The Library has decreased their burden on
the property tax dollar by accessing special funds to assist in covering the appropriate
costs of operations. Increases in the areas of golf courses and Young Arena will be
covered by additional revenue without impacting the property tax levy.
There are several areas of increased expenses that are offset by outside revenue
generation. Those areas include the Water Pollution and Sewer Departments, Economic
Development Loans and Community Development programs. Transfers from the Road
Use tax fund into the General fund are being decreased because the Engineering
Department will be fully funded in the Road Use tax fund as their primary duties apply to
road maintenance work. The capital improvement activities are increased due to ,
anticipated Airport improvements, traffic signal improvements and the construction of
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
The total property tax levy is proposed to be decreased from $18.55 to $18.50 per
thousand dollars of valuation. This coincides with the five year plan to reduce property
taxes but does allow for the additional improvements needed in capital programs. New
valuation has added approximately eight hundred thousand dollars to property taxes
generated in 1998 and the increased funding to public safety is absorbing those new tax
dollars.
Anders asked for an explanation of the tax stability bank line item. Mayor Rooff
explained that the presumptions of this budgeting process were tied to projections on the
changes to the roll back figure in the next two years. The roll back is decreasing from
59.3% in fiscal year 1997 to 58.8% in fiscal year 1998 and is anticipated to hit a low of
56.8% in the year 1999. Staff is projecting the need to hold funds in the tax stabilization
bank for the next fiscal year to alleviate the burden created from the drop in state roll
back figures.
Council members Murphy and Jordan expressed their pleasure in seeing the property tax
levy reduction while increasing the efforts in public safety services.
Anders asked for a summary wrap up of the increase in debt service, total revenue growth
and operational expense growth.
With no further discussion it was moved by Jordan, seconded by Murphy to adjourn the
meeting at 5:46 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Mollenhoff, Collier. Motion carried.
Susan Fangman
City Clerk