HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 10-28 City tightens belt as budget tops $14 million THE REVIEW IAinnesota °° Single Copy 30' WED.,OCT.28, 1981
City tightens belt as
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budget to s $ 14 million
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By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS Maplewood is expected to rise from Services Department is one of two city
Staff Writer $60,000 last year to$67,000 next year. offices to face a cut in its 1982 budget.The
While the city's overall budget will Community Services budget will be
The Maplewood 1982 budget, increase roughly $3.5 million, due to reduced from$1,000,002 to$798,000.
representing $14,103,000 in total ex- special sewer and debt service expenses,
penditures,has been approved and the the actual operating budget will barely go Funding for the Public Safety Depart-
average homeowner in the city can expect up.In fact,the general fund,at$4,923,000 ment will be reduced from$2,573,000 to
a$29 increase in the city's portion of his or in 1982,will be$42,000 less than last year, $2,531,000. With 51 employees, Public
her property tax bill, according to Faust said. Safety has the largest work force of any
Maplewood Finance Director Daniel city department.
Faust. • The city council took a number of steps
The additional$29 increase represents a to minimize increases in city expenses The other city offices will get slightly
34 percent increase in the city's portion of next year.The council has instituted a more money next year,but the increases
the property tax compared to 1981.The hiring freeze for the city's 107-member are uniformly below the rate of inflation.
city's portion of the average tax bill will work force. Council members also in- The Finance Department will receive
increase from$85 to$114. The higher strutted City Manager Barry Evans to $160,000;the City Clerk's office,$306,000;
taxes result from the increased assessed recommend two positions which can be Community Development,$224,000; and
values of homes, necessary because of eliminated in 1982,bringing the city work Public Works,$3,209,000.
inflation,and a three mill rise in the levyforce to 105.
The biggest extra expenses the city
rate,Faust explained. The street overlay program,which cost faces next year are roughly$500,000 in
The value of the average home in the city about$253,000 in 1981, will be sewer charges and$3.5 million in its debt
continued,but on a smaller basis,Faust service. The increased cost for sewer
said.In previous years,the city has ab- service is the result of the Metropolitan
sorbed the cost of the program,but next Waste Control Commission's decision to
year the money will come from state aid charge Maplewood and surrounding
funds.Those funds have previously been suburbs for the water overflowing
used to reduce the special assessments on suburban lakes and entering St. Paul's
public works projects, which will, ac- sewage treatment system.
cordingly,go up in cost,Faust explained. The large debt-service expense will
enable the city to complete payment on
In one other change in the budget short term bonds issued in 1979,according
policies,the council altered the formula to Faust. Those bonds were used to
for providing city funds for employees finance public improvements on
who travel out of state for training Maryland, Gervais and Cope Avenues,
programs.Next year the employee will Faust explained.The bonds are paid off
begin to pay a greater portion of his or her through special assessments,so they do
travel,hotel and meal expenses. not affect the city's basic property tax
The council made one revision calling rate,he added.
for an increase in expenditures over While the city's portion of the property
Evans' recommended budget. Council tax bill is expected to increase only$29,
members agreed to retain two 20-hour the average overall property tax payment
positions at the Maplewood Nature Center will increase roughly 59 percent,warns
that Evans had recommended cutting. Faust. The average homeowner in
Thus,Barb Brunell,the receptionist,and Maplewood paid$458 in property taxes
Judy Horsnell, the bird-bander, will last year,but will pay about$726 next
continue to work at the center in 1982. year,he said.The bulk of the increase will
Despite the decision to retain two of its come from school and county taxes,he
part-time employees, the Community holed.