Proposed City Budget for 2013 Shows Changes in Revenue, Taxes
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: July 17, 2012
Though the proposed budget for the fiscal 2013 year is flat compared to previous years, there is a decrease in sales tax revenue.
"We will not be getting that sales tax money in fiscal year 13 and that's why you see a decrease in the sales tax revenue," said Mindy Patterson, director of finance.
But the city says that's largely due to the loss of a one-time project that had brought in more revenue in 2011 and 2012, though the city will not say what that project was.
"Once you back those numbers out, yes we're still up, but not as near as significant as what the actual percentages have been showing," she said.
The budget also shows a decrease in the tax rate, which is mainly because of the council approving excess funds paying for capitol investment projects in cash.
"What that means is we didn't have to issue debt to increase the debt tax rate, the debt portion of the debt rate," Patterson explained. "So that's why the tax rate is going down, because we paid cash for those projects instead of basically having to go get a loan."
Money will also be used to fund two air conditioning units at the civic center, costing about $1.5 million.
"We're barely having them limp along so we're replacing those so that when we do have events at the civic center, they can be controlled climate-wise," said Patterson.
But the council tried to keep the budget balanced by not adding any news city programs or services.
"We budget very conservative about that," Patterson said. "And because of that, we don't want to add any new programs that's going to be on-going cost because we're required by law to have a balanced budget and there's only two ways to balance it: Increase revenues or decrease expense."
"We will not be getting that sales tax money in fiscal year 13 and that's why you see a decrease in the sales tax revenue," said Mindy Patterson, director of finance.
But the city says that's largely due to the loss of a one-time project that had brought in more revenue in 2011 and 2012, though the city will not say what that project was.
"Once you back those numbers out, yes we're still up, but not as near as significant as what the actual percentages have been showing," she said.
The budget also shows a decrease in the tax rate, which is mainly because of the council approving excess funds paying for capitol investment projects in cash.
"What that means is we didn't have to issue debt to increase the debt tax rate, the debt portion of the debt rate," Patterson explained. "So that's why the tax rate is going down, because we paid cash for those projects instead of basically having to go get a loan."
Money will also be used to fund two air conditioning units at the civic center, costing about $1.5 million.
"We're barely having them limp along so we're replacing those so that when we do have events at the civic center, they can be controlled climate-wise," said Patterson.
But the council tried to keep the budget balanced by not adding any news city programs or services.
"We budget very conservative about that," Patterson said. "And because of that, we don't want to add any new programs that's going to be on-going cost because we're required by law to have a balanced budget and there's only two ways to balance it: Increase revenues or decrease expense."
