I recently gave the State of the City presentation to the Isanti Area Chamber of Commerce and shared our past successes, current challenges and future goals. We discussed the tremendous achievement of the Water Treatment Plant and the excellent results of our water test. The raw untreated water tested at 6.42 pCi/L, which is over the federal limit of 5.42 pCi/L. The water processed at the treatment plant tested at .42pCi/L which is a fantastic result. The Water Treatment Plant is a great success and was built on time and under budget.
We talked about the success of the City’s Foreclosure Management Program and the 136 foreclosed homes that sold. The tremendous results have our program hailed as the best in the state. We still have NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) funds available to help in the purchase of a foreclosed home. There are still homes cycling in and out of foreclosure and we have a long way to go; but as Winston Churchill said, “I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.”
I discussed the openings of a number of local businesses in the past year and our replacing of the Economic Development Director. The City’s first comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan and Multi-model plan were shared. These two plans lay the foundation for future budgeting and development. It is important that we start saving today for the inevitable replacement cost for all of the infrastructure that has been added to the City in the past decade. Planning today will save the City for decades to come.
We have all seen the dire reports of the State’s finances and the seemingly constant drumbeat of cuts. Isanti is expected to lose 82% of our Local Government Aid (which is tax money we send to the state and they should be sending back) which equates to 13% of our total General Fund Budget. On top of this, property tax values are projected to decline across the board by 10% to 30%. Paying lower property taxes is a good thing on an individual basis but this also means a lot less money going to City government to provide services. We are facing a $500,000-plus loss of revenue from LGA cuts and property tax devaluation. We also have over $500,000 in non-paid taxes and assessments that have made budgeting even more difficult. Our total General Fund Budget is $3.3 million.
We have been preparing for this moment for the last few years, as I have shared with you in past articles. Isanti is far ahead of almost every other community in the state with our LGA flip last year and the reserve fund we have built up. This will get us through to 2013 without a change in our level of service so long as the budget plan I set out is followed. It is also important to note that several projects will be moving forward such as Railroad Avenue paving, but this is being paid for out of Municipal State Aid funds and not Isanti property taxes.
I try to live by another Churchill quote: “It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” I know we will all do what is necessary to continue to move Isanti in the right direction
Now for some fun stuff! Isanti is an eventful City and 2010 will be packed. We have our amazing Rodeo and Jubilee Days, our Rum River BMX racing, with the State finals once again in our great City. The Redbirds will be making us all proud, and just down the road our Soccer complex will be humming with thousands of players all summer long. The newest great event to hit our City is the Isanti Farmers Market locating in Downtown Isanti. This is a fantastic April to October weekly event. For more information go to www.isantifamilyfarmersmarket.org/ and learn how to be a sponsor, as I am, how to be a vendor or most importantly, a weekly customer.
There is so much more but I have run out of space once again. As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact me at George@GeorgeWimmer.com or 763-444-7158 or my cell at 763-442-8749.
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