As we head into 2018 the city has accomplished one of its
annual goals. The goal was establishing
its budget and certifying its levy of taxes for the upcoming year. The budget process starts in July with a look
at how things have gone for the first half of the year. Operating expenses are reviewed to make sure
we’re within budgetary compliance and whether or not the budget line item will
meet the needs that it was intended for.
Sometimes the budget more than meets the need which is a testament to
frugal spending or “over” budgeting. In
any event judgements are made as to what might be acceptable looking at the
next budget cycle.
The preliminary budget is required to be accomplished by the
end of September for the following year.
This requires a preliminary levy is adopted by the council. This levy is certified to the county to be
used for the notice of the public budget meeting to be held in December. The final levy is typically adopted at that
meeting and can’t exceed the preliminary levy amount but can be reduced. This year the city held its preliminary levy
amount to be certified as the final levy.
For 2018 the final levy for the city of Breezy Point is
$1,963,482. Of this amount $190,000 is
to pay debt service. The remaining funds
support the remaining city obligations of running and maintaining the city and
its operations. We have 15 dedicated
employees that provide these functions.
They include 6 police officers, two of which are paramedics. We also
have a police administrative support person who manages the office at the
Public Safety Building. There are 5
public works employees. These people address
needs for the parks, streets, and sewer system along with a host of
miscellaneous tasks. We have 3
administration employees that serve as point persons, doing accounting, utility
bills, addressing various office duties and working with the city council. Assisting
in specific areas are contractors providing planning, zoning and building
inspection support.
The city continues to grow at a slow but steady rate of
about 12-16 single family units per year.
Changes and improvements are being made on an ongoing basis. We’re giving greater attention to street
improvements with seal coating and paving.
The city has not incurred any new debt and anticipates that trend to
continue for some time. Attention to
future expenditures has its benefits in saving interest expense. We headed into the new year in good shape
financially. The budget and levy are
set. It is hoped 2018 will be good and
productive year in Breezy Point.
