2010 City Budget Highlights

The Woodbury City Council adopted the 2010 city budget on Dec. 9, 2009. The action capped a process that began in May, when city departments began preparing their budget requests, and culminated with the public hearing on Dec. 9, 2009. The budget was discussed at numerous Council meetings and workshops between May and December.

For 2010, the General Fund budget, which is the city's main operating fund, totals $25,972,624. This compares to $25,915,225 for 2009, representing a 0.2 percent increase. Property taxes at $18.5 million account for 71.2 percent of the General Fund revenues. Other sources of revenue include permit fees from new home and business construction, charges for various services, miscellaneous revenues, and transfers from other funds.

General Fund estimated revenues

Combining the property tax funding of the General Fund, Capital Improvement Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Fund, the proposed 2010 total levy is $27.5 million, which is 2.91 percent higher than the 2009 levy of $26.7 million.

Total city expenditures for 2010 are estimated at $76.1 million. This includes the General Fund and all other city funds, such as the storm water utility, emergency medical services, Eagle Valley Golf Course, Bielenberg Sports Center, and others.

Adopted 2010 expenditures - all budgeted funds

Levy and taxes
City taxes on a residential parcel valued at $303,600 -- the average value for taxes payable in 2009 -- are estimated to have no increase in 2010. This assumes the parcel experiences a 6.8 percent decrease in taxable market value.

Estimated taxes

It's important to note that market values, and thus taxes, do not increase or decrease the same for all properties. The net city tax may increase if a property has a market value increase due to improvements that add value, such as refinishing a basement or adding a three-season porch, and also due to the effects of the State of Minnesota Limited Market Value Program.

"The City Council's work on the 2010 budget has been framed by the difficult economic conditions both the city and our residents are experiencing," said Mayor Bill Hargis. "...we are trying to be fiscally responsible while still maintaining services at the level citizens expect."

"Under the proposed budget, the average home owner receives police and fire protection, snow plowing and street maintenance, park development and maintenance, recreational programs and facilities, and many other services for about $76 per month. I believe this compares well to what we as consumers pay monthly for cell phone services or Broadband Internet, or for entertainment such as a concert, sporting event, or theater performance."

City taxes constitute about 27 percent of the total property tax bill for Woodbury home owners residing in School District 833 and the South Washington Watershed District (amounts will vary somewhat for other school and watershed districts).

Emergency medical services (EMS)
EMS rates will increase approximately 12 percent for 2010. Items impacting the rate increase are:

• The limited reimbursement rates from health care insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.
• A substantial portion of the city's EMS incidents are covered by health care insurance with limited reimbursement rates.
• The number of paramedics and cross-trained police/paramedics and fire/paramedics is increasing. The city's part-time paramedic staff are fully funded through EMS. In addition, the city's cross-trained paramedics are partially funded through EMS.

Water and sewer rates
To encourage conservation during lawn watering season, three new water rate tiers were added in 2007 for high volume users. The new structure added another dollar increase at 60,000 gallons ($2.88 per 1,000 gallons), another dollar at 90,000 gallons ($3.88 per 1,000 gallons), and another at 150,000 ($4.88 per 1,000 gallons). Approximately 20 percent of the population is using more than 60,000 gallons per quarter.

The storm water utility rates were increased in 2008. This created a funding source for system improvements to be implemented in the aftermath of the October 2005 rainfall event. The cost for a single-family residence in 2010 will remain $17.30 per quarter.

Street light rates
Due to Excel Energy raising its rates for residential street lighting in 2009, the city increased street light rates an average of 8.6 percent for 2010.

EDA/HRA levy
From 2001 through 2006, Woodbury's Economic Development Authority (EDA) levied funds to support affordable housing programs. In 2007, the levy was put on hold for one year while the city updated its housing action plan and formed a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).

More information
The full 2010 budget document may be reviewed on the city's Web site and in the Finance Department located at City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road. It also is available at the R.H. Stafford (Washington County) Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury. For more information, call the Finance Department at (651) 714-3502 or send an e-mail to finance@ci.woodbury.mn.us.

• Budget Process and Timetable
• Budget Overview
• Where Do Your Taxes Go?
• How Does the Cost of City Services Stack Up?
• Budget Summary - All Funds
• Resume of Appropriations and Expenditures, 2007-2010
• General Fund Budget - Estimated Revenues
• Property Tax Comparison (City Taxes Only)
• 2010 City Budget Highlights