09-08-2020 CCM Workshop (Budget)HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL
REVIEW OF 2021 PRELIMINARY BUDGET
MINUTES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020, AT 4:00 PM
CITY CENTER — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. Call to Order
Mayor Forcier called the workshop to order at 4:00 p.m. Members present included Mary
Christensen, Steve Cook, Chad Czmowski and Dave Sebesta. Others present were: Matt
Jaunich, City Administrator, and other City directors
REVIEW OF 2021 PRELIMINARY BUDGET
2. 2021 Preliminary Budget
Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Jaunich noted that today's
agenda will include a review and reminders, the state budget impact, preliminary levy and past
levies, general fund revenue and expenses, proposed staff changes, enterprise funds revenue and
expenses, debt management plan and next steps. Mr. Jaunich also reviewed the City's mission
statement, vision statement, the six core areas of focus, items included to be completed by 2023
in the strategic plan and five long-term goals the Council should consider every budget season.
Those goals include: 1. What should future tax levies look like? 2. What levels of services
should the City perform and provide in the future? 3. What is an acceptable level of debt? 4.
What is our level of investment in technology and equipment, and what period of payback is
acceptable? 5. What are our future infrastructure needs (roads, utilities, buildings, etc.) and how
are we going to pay for them?
Mr. Jaunich reminded the Council that the City Charter requires staff to submit an annual budget
by September I". The City Charter also requires the Council to act on the preliminary budget by
the second regular meeting in September. After the preliminary levy is set, it can only be
lowered, not raised. The Council will need to set the date and time of its Truth -in -Taxation
hearing at the second meeting in September and provide a phone number and mailing address that
taxpayers may call/contact if they have questions related to the City's property tax levy/budget.
The hearing is usually held in early December. The budget will be adopted in mid -late
December. Mr. Jaunich commented on the State budget situation which shows a budget deficit
projected to be at $4.7 billion. This has doubled since May. The State situation is likely to have
more of an impact on the City's local budget than the local economy. A big question is what the
potential impact on local government aid will be next year. The State's next budget forecast
should be coming out in late October.
Staff is proposing to increase the general tax levy by 3.9%, with a 5.9% increase in the EDA tax
levy and a 5.9% increase in the HRA tax levy, with a total tax impact of 4%. Mr. Jaunich
provided an overview of past tax levies from 2012 to the present. Mr. Jaunich provided the
Council four options for the Council to consider for the preliminary tax levy. The first option
would hold both levies flat; the second option would increase the general fund levy by 3% and
the debt levy by 0%; the third option would increase the general fund levy by 4.0% and the debt
levy by 0%; and the fourth option would increase the general fund levy by 5.6% and the debt levy
by 0%. Mr. Jaunich spoke about a 10-year tax rate trend and provided information on a tax rate
comparison of Hutchinson to other regional centers, state-wide and county -wide cities.
Mr. Jaunich provided a market value history which is a 5.9% increase from 2019 to 2020. Mr.
Jaunich reviewed general fund revenues and how they are proposed to be increased and
decreased, with an average of a 2.4% increase. Property taxes see an increase of 5.6%; other
taxes increase 0.0%; licenses & permits decrease 10.6%; intergovernmental revenue decrease
.9%; charges for service increase of 0.2%; no increase in fines & forfeitures, increase of 1.8% in
miscellaneous revenue, and an increase of 2.1% in transfers -in. The general fund revenues
include a 5.6% tax levy increase. $30,000 of this increase is due to the Uponor tax abatement
which is a $15,000 decrease from 2020. There will be no more PILOT percentage increase from
HUC. Permit fees are budgeted to have a reduction of $39,000. There is a $50,000 increase from
the Liquor Revenue Fund with a debt fall off. There is a $30,000 increase from Water/Sewer
Fund to fund equipment replacements. $20,000 of fund balance will be used from drug forfeiture
funds for police training site improvements. There will be no change in the LGA amount. The
City is in Year 3 of 5 of phasing out HSA funding from the self insurance fund. Mr. Jaunich
noted that a 1% tax levy increase in the general fund is equivalent to $52,589. Mr. Jaunich then
spoke about local government aid and explained that 49% of the City's LGA in 2021 has been
allocated to the general fund with 5 1 % going to the capital fund. The split in 2018 & 2019 was
46%/54%. Originally when LGA was split out of the general fund in 2011 it was split 40%/60%.
The 2021 LGA is budgeted at the same level as 2020. The 2021 certified amount currently has an
increase of $76,461 which will go to the capital projects fund if received.
General fund expenses are proposed to increase 2.4%. Wages & benefits are increased 2.0%,
supplies increased 3.6%, services & charges increased 2.6%, miscellaneous expenses increased
2.0%, transfers -out increased 3.0% and a 100% increase in capital outlay. Mr. Jaunich noted that
the largest impact on the City's general fund expenses is associated with wages and benefits
which includes costs for general performance increases and staff timing changes and minor shifts.
There will be no increase to health insurance next year and no new positions or additions. The
additions also include $30,000 for Uponor tax abatement, higher general liability costs, includes
costs for a wage/compensation study, increased funding for equipment replacement from
water/wastewater funds, inflation and other miscellaneous costs. The preliminary budget is
currently balanced. Mr. Jaunich then reviewed expenditures from 2020 to 2021, historical
general fund budget information and staffing levels.
Mr. Jaunich reviewed the enterprise funds and their proposed increases/decreases. Mr. Jaunich
noted that fund numbers include depreciation. He noted that the liquor fund continues to do
really well and no more debt payments in the Liquor Fund. There are no proposed rate changes
for garbage, water and sewer. There will be a slight rate increase in the stormwater rates. There
will be a decrease in fund balances due to capital needs. There will be a transfer to the General
Fund from the Water/Wastewater of $30,000 to help fund major equipment purchases.
Additional budget factors include a $14.95 million capital improvement plan, no changes in
staffing levels and currently no changes in service, staffing costs and capital needs are the biggest
driver of the city's budget with staffing costs being the biggest reason behind the request of a tax
levy increase, second year of Uponor tax abatement, no more HUC PILOT percentage increase
and fund balances continue to remain healthy.
Mr. Jaunich then briefly reviewed the debt management plan with a target debt levy of $2.6
million. The project limit continues at $1.9 million but low interest rates in recent years have
allowed for higher project limits. After a 5% levy increase in 2015 and a 1% increase in 2016,
staff is budgeting for a 0% increase for the fourth straight year and is not expecting a debt levy
increase again until 2023. This plan does not include anything related to the new police station.
Mr. Jaunich reviewed the following considerations: a 1% levy increase is equal to $74,589, staff
is proposing a preliminary City tax levy increase of 3.9% (5.6% increase in general fund),
combined with the EDA, HRA and tax abatement levy increases, the total tax impact to
Hutchinson residents will be the equivalent to a 4.0% increase, the current budget is balanced, the
current proposed tax levy increase would have a small impact on property taxes due to the
increase in value. Mr. Jaunich noted again that the State budget situation could have a major
impact and there are still a lot of decisions that need to be made between now and the end of
December. The biggest factors behind the levy increase are the standard wage and benefit
increases ($185,615) and the secondary impacts of liability insurance ($31,400), additional
supplies ($30,000) and the 2021 compensation study ($20,000). Additional supplies are mainly
for auto repairs and some reclassification items.
Council Member Czmowski expressed that he feels staff has done a great job at presenting a
balanced budget, especially with the way things are in society and around the state.
Council Member Cook asked several questions about various line item expenditures/revenues and
perhaps using fund balance for some one-time expenses. Matt Jaunich explained that staff could
provide scenarios to show how one-time use would affect the general fund tax levy. Council
Members were generally in agreement with using fund balance for one-time expenses on a
limited basis.
Formal action of the preliminary budget will be taken at the September 22, 2020, Council
meeting.
The consensus of the Council was that they were okay with a 3.9% tax levy increase, but if it
could be lowered that would be good too.
3. Adjournment
Motion by Christensen, second by Sebesta, to adjourn the workshop at 5:15 p.m. Roll call vote
taken: - Cook — aye; Czmowski — aye; Sebesta — aye; Christensen — aye; Forcier — aye. Motion
carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
Gary T. Forcier
Mayor
Matthew Jaunich
City Administrator