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SESSION 1695 MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY CITY COUNCIL MAY 12, 1997 At a special budget study meeting of the City Council of University City held in the Emergency Operation Center of City Hail on Monday, May 12, 1997, Mayor Joseph L. Adams cailed the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. In addition to the Mayor, the following members of the Council were present: Mr. Wayne I. Munkel Mr. Robert G. Wagner Mr. Lawrence Ueberman Mr. Paul E, Schoomer Mrs. Betty Thompson ABSENT: Mr. Hardy Ware was excused. Also present was City Manager Frank Ollendorff, Finance Director Willie Norfleet and Assistant to the City Manager Gregory Rose. The 1997-98 budget was the only subject discussed. BUDGET MESSAGE: The City Manager referred to page A-2, where he noted that the Property Tax Rates were listed as the same as last year. He said that there would be one change to the Police and Firemen's Retirement Fund, because the actuary's report had not been received as of yet to accurately rettect the correct rate. He suspects that it will probably be more than .04. The Library is satisfied with their .32 and there was not an increase in the General Fund property tax rate. On page A-3, Mr. I ieberman noticed a negative $6,300 in the Generai Property Taxes revenue from last year, thinking that with the reassessment, property taxes would continue to rise every year and now we are anticipating a loss. Mr. Ollendorffsald that with the reassessment, the City would have to adjust the tax rate, but we would not get anymore revenue. The collection rate, which Mr. Norfleet said was anticipated to be between 96 and 97 percent for property taxes, would make a difference. Mr. Lieberman said that under St. Louis County I Sales Taxes, Capitai Improvement, he sees a haifa million dollar increase. Mr. Ollendorffsaid that we would be collecting it for a full year, not a partiai 8 months. The large amount of grant funds received was for the Pennsylvania Bridge. REVENUE: Mr. Ollendorff referred Council to page B-7, where he noted that the City was projecting about the same amount of reai property taxes as last year. Delinquent property taxes are expected to increase. Responding to Mr. Wagner, Mr. Norfleet explained how he projects delinquencies and clarified the definition of delinquencies as it is used in the budget. Responding to Mr. Munkel, Mr. Norfleet briefly explained the subtleties between delinquent and current bills. Finance collects a significant amount of delinquent bills. Mr. Ollendorffdirected Council back up to the middle of page B-7, Licenses. A slight increase has been projected for utility taxes, based on high/low degree projections from the utility companies. Mr. Ollendorffsaid that 640.15, Soccer, was for the rentai of the new Recreation Facility. A smail inflationary increase was budgeted for Inspection Fees. The Gasoline Tax revenue continues to go up because of the annual few cents increase that the State Legislature voted in approximately six years ago, The St. Louis County Saies Tax is increasing because of the redistribution formula and the increased collections of sales tax. Responding to Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Ollendorffsaid that the Originai Estimate is what is in the budget and the Revised Estimate is what we now think we are going to get for the current year. In regards to the Sales Tax, we think we are going to do better than we budgeted and it should continue to grow next year. The redistribution formula for distributing sales tax, between all the cities and the County, kicked in a little every year. St. Louis County Sales Tax - Capital Improvement is actually our University City voted saies tax and we share in the St. Louis County pool. Mr. Ollendorffsaid that the City would receive it for the full year and budgeted $1.9 million and then received it for a little less than eight months, which ended up being just a little over a million. The Grant Funds current amount was for the Pennsylvania Bridge. The Grants for this next budget year consist of basically Police grants. Mr. OIlendorffsaid that