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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Budget HighlightsCity of Rexburg 2021 Budget Highlights Total Budget: $69,129,200 up $1,089,900 from the current 2020 budget as of May 31, 2020. Operating Budget: $33,066,400 up $1,365,100 from the current 2020 operating budget as of May 31, 2020. The increase came in large part due to street repair contracts (over $1.05 million). Other large increases came from Sanitation ($263,900), the Police Department ($161,400) and street operations ($233,400). The largest decrease in operating budget was for the Arts (- $244,400). The General Fund has a $150,000 Contingency budget for unforeseen increases in expenditures or reductions in revenues. A carryover of $775,800 was included in the general fund budgeted revenues to balance the budget. Sales tax was budgeted lower than normal to reflect the continuing effects of COVID19 based on projections from the State of Idaho. Revenue, including carryover, available for street maintenance, street reconstruction, and the construction of new streets is $9,450,200. We did budget a significant drop in highway user funds (fuel taxes) of over $216,000 over the prior year budget with the COVID19 effects. We project a carryover of $85,700 in the street impact fund that can be used for future qualified projects. The Urban Renewal Agency (URA) is budgeted to contribute $2.09 Million towards the street projects. Major reconstruction street projects include the following:  Reconstruct/Widen 7th North from 2nd East to Stonebridge Subdivision $1,000,000  Chad, Angela, Melanie, Marianne Drive (LID 49) $ 959,000 Major new street construction projects include the following:  East Parkway Design-7th N to Barney Dairy Road (DIF) $ 600,000  Traffic Signal Upgrade-7th S/Yellowstone (URA) $ 200,000  ROW (URA)/New Road (DIF) 2nd W to Sunrise $ 350,000  Roundabout-Pioneer/7th S (URA) $ 790,000  7th S Railroad Crossing Upgrade (URA) $ 1,000,000  2nd E and Highway 33 new road/rail road crossing (DIF) $ 1,050,000 Street operating capital-Multiple items, including a new Storage Shed and Mini-Excavator $ 675,400 Community Safety Lighting Fund will continue to upgrade lights to LED $ 150,000 Urban Renewal Agency funded projects near 2nd East and Moody Road:  Street Lighting $ 100,000  Extend Water & Sewer Services down Moody Road to West-City/URA Funded $ 500,000 Property tax revenues are estimated to increase about $458,100 to a total of $5,512,800. The current city property tax levy rate is at $415 per $100,000 of taxable value, which is still one of the lowest for most cities in southeast Idaho and other similar size cities. A large portion of the increase (over $304,800) is coming from new construction. One new full-time personnel position was included in the budget for street operations. One full-time position in the Geographic Information Systems Department (city county joint venture) was eliminated from the budget, as there is no plan to replace a position being vacated by a retiring employee. Council has decided to freeze wages to the prior year level in the budget as well to help offset budget constraints. Utility rate increases are being recommended in water, sewer, and garbage. Rate changes would be effective October 1, 2020. The current suggested cumulative increase for all city services ranges on average between 2.8% and 5.1% (see Rexburg Utilities Sample Bills document). A typical residential resident would pay an additional 2.8 % or $ 2.95 per month. A public hearing will be held for any recommended rate changes. Major utility construction projects include the continuation of the major upgrade to our water facilities. The water project will provide needed production, storage, and delivery capacity to meet the current water demands and future water demands as our population grows. The water upgrades will be funded with a combination of operating reserves and a loan from the Department of Environmental Quality of up to $11,100,000, which includes principal forgiveness of up to $2,211,300. We project to spend approximately $11,000,000 on the water improvements over the six-year project ($1,838,000 in fiscal year 2021) and complete the project by the end of the calendar year 2021. The sewer plant-operating fund anticipates spending an additional $200,000 on Blower/VFD replacements. Included in the fiscal year 2020 budget is $ 4 million for a gravity fed sewer line and lift station to provide improved collections and expand capacity for the North West side of the city. The contributions for the sewer line project are still being determined and will include claw back fees to be paid by future development and contributions from other cities that use that infrastructure as well. The Wastewater collections department has also budgeted for a new sewer line camera/vehicle for $150,000. The Airport Environmental Assessment for $300,000 is in the budget and will not begin until the Feasibility Study is complete and permission to move forward has been granted by the FAA. A new tractor/snow plow is also in the budget for $263,000. These projects are funded approximately 90% by the FAA, up to 5% by the State of Idaho, and the rest by the City and the County. The City is setting aside reserve funds to meet their portion of any match if a final decision to relocate the airport is made. The city projects to have $980,300 of reserve set aside by the end of Fiscal Year 2021. The budget includes a transfer to a reserve fund from the general fund of $400,000 to begin saving for a future municipal building and police station. The City anticipates finishing the new baseball/softball quad at Community Fields by fall 2020. A new restroom is in the budget at Riverside Park, but funding will need to be requested and approved by the Urban Renewal Agency to make this project possible. The City hopes to revitalize Rotary Park with the help of city and grant funding and to replace/add playground equipment at Nature Park. The Parks Impact Fund has budgeted the following projects:  Add parking lot at Nature Park $ 85,000  Add lights at Pickle Ball Courts at Nature Park $ 10,000  Add a restroom at Nature Park $250,000  Add a river takeout area at Eagle Park $ 50,000 The Trails of Madison County Fund has budgeted the following projects:  Add pathway with ITD TAP grant behind Junior High $172,000  Expand path along Teton River $100,000 The budget for capital improvements at the Romance Theatre and Tabernacle was reduced significantly in 2021 as compared to prior years. There are several small capital items and the largest capital item is masonry repointing at the Tabernacle for $40,000. Golf has the following items in their capital budget: continue to rebuild mainline at Legacy Golf Course, expand deck for patron use and to also provide covered cart storage, new carpet in Teton Lakes Clubhouse, new water line to connect the canal to the storage pond for irrigation purposes, and a second phase of conversion of the old storage shed to a functioning shop.