Welcome!
City of Edina
2011 Citizen
Budget Workshops
Purpose of the Workshops
Your charge: To provide direction to City officials on budgetary matters, both short and longer-term
1. Better understand the trends and issues of Edina’s budget
2. Share your vision and values
3. Provide input on your priorities
4. Inform the City Council
Purpose of the Workshops
5. Model meaningful civic discussion on important issues
--disagreement is to be expected
--mixed views at tables
--feel free to respectfully disagree
About the Citizens League
• Nonpartisan nonprofit for 60 years• Vision is to create the common ground
where “We the People” can achieve the common good
• Principle: People who are affected by a problem should have the opportunity to define it and weigh in on how it’s solved
How the Workshops Will Gather Input
• Three workshops • Nov. 1, Arneson Acres Park• Nov. 2, Edina Community Center• Nov. 3, Edina Public Works Facility
• Online workshop, Nov. 6• Discussion• Written comments• “Voting”--to quantify and record views,
making sure everyone is heard
How Your Input Will Be Used
• Results will be summarized and made available for all City residents at edinacitizenengagement.org
• Results will help guide City Council members and city staff as they make budget decisions
Workshop Overview
• Warm up questions• Budget overview• Discussion questions and “voting”• Wrap up and evaluation
Warm Up Question 1: In a recent survey, Edina residents were asked why they like living in Edina. What was the top response?
1. Close to family and friends
2. Good schools
3. Convenient location
4. Reputation/prestige
5. Housing/neighborhoods
6. Parks and Trails
7. Close to Shopping
8. Safety
Warm Up Question 2. The main reason I decided to come today is because:
1. It’s my civic duty
2. I have concerns about my property taxes
3. I have a specific budget issue I am concerned about
4. I’d like to learn more about the City budget
5. I didn’t have anything better to do
6. Not sure
Budget Overview
On a typical property tax statement, 21% of the taxes collected go to the City of Edina
The total 2011 City budget is $91 million
General fund
Other “general government”
Enterprise funds
Enterprise funds total $36 million in spending
The general fund totals $29 million in spending
Most property tax dollars are usedto support the general fund
A home valued at $300,000 pays these amounts for services in 2011…
$95
$176
$275
$108 $98
$20
Important Things to Know About Edina’s Budget
• Virtually no state influence• Municipal liquor stores generate excess
revenue for the general fund• Cultural and recreational amenities
require subsidies• No unsustainable expenditures
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
1. How should we use cash reserves?2. What is the appropriate level and source
of subsidies for amenities?3. How should we use surplus revenues
from municipal liquor stores?4. Are property tax levels appropriate?5. What should be the guiding principles for
budget decisions?
Cash Reserves
• $2.5 million available in “unreserved” cash balance
• Additional $10 million is reserved for cash flow and unexpected expenses
Unreserved Cash —Proposed Uses
• Construction projects ($700,000)• Technology and HR projects ($300,000)• One-time property tax savings (2012) by
paying debt service ($378,000)• Reduce property taxes for 10 years by
pre-paying special assessments ($155,000)
• Reduce property taxes for 20 years by pre-paying bonds ($950,000)
Principles Behind the Proposed Plan
• Control tax levy growth by controlling debt in near, intermediate and long-term
• Fiscal sustainability• Contribute to large capital outlays in
technology that provide savings in long run• Address one-time costs
Other Possibilities
• Accelerate capital improvement plan• Significant one-time reduction in
property taxes• Add to reserve fund• Your ideas
Question 3. What is your view of the proposed use of the $2.5 million in available cash?
1. It’s the right plan
2. It’s about right, with some minor modifications
3. It needs significant changes
4. It’s the wrong plan
Usage of City Amenities
% HHs using
Aquatic Center 39%
Braemar Golf Course 36%
Braemar Ice Arena 30%
Centennial Lakes/Edinborough Parks 69/48%
Edina Art Center 33%
Edina Liquor 72%
Operating Income of City Amenities
2010 Operating Income of City Amenities
Capital Improvement Plan and Sources
self-funded funded from other sources
Questions 4-9.What principle should guide the financing of City Amenities (golf course, ice arena, Edinborough, Centennial Lakes, arts center, aquatic center)?
1. It should be completely self-supporting, including capital expenditures.
2. It should be self-supporting with regard to annual operating expenditures.
3. The current levels of subsidies are appropriate.
4. It should receive more financial support so that fees can be reduced.
5. Other
Question 4.What principle should guide the financing of the Golf Courses?
1. It should be completely self-supporting, including capital expenditures.
2. It should be self-supporting with regard to annual operating expenditures.
3. The current levels of subsidies are appropriate.
4. It should receive more financial support so that fees can be reduced.
5. Other
Question 5.What principle should guide the financing of the Braemar Ice Arena?
1. It should be completely self-supporting, including capital expenditures.
2. It should be self-supporting with regard to annual operating expenditures.
3. The current levels of subsidies are appropriate.
4. It should receive more financial support so that fees can be reduced.
5. Other
Question 6.What principle should guide the financing of Edinborough Park?
1. It should be completely self-supporting, including capital expenditures.
2. It should be self-supporting with regard to annual operating expenditures.
3. The current levels of subsidies are appropriate.
4. It should receive more financial support so that fees can be reduced.
5. Other
Question 7.What principle should guide the financing of Centennial Lakes Park?
1. It should be completely self-supporting, including capital expenditures.
2. It should be self-supporting with regard to annual operating expenditures.
3. The current levels of subsidies are appropriate.
4. It should receive more financial support so that fees can be reduced.
5. Other
Question 8.What principle should guide the financing of the Arts Center?
1. It should be completely self-supporting, including capital expenditures.
2. It should be self-supporting with regard to annual operating expenditures.
3. The current levels of subsidies are appropriate.
4. It should receive more financial support so that fees can be reduced.
5. Other
Question 9.What principle should guide the financing of the Aquatic Center?
1. It should be completely self-supporting, including capital expenditures.
2. It should be self-supporting with regard to annual operating expenditures.
3. The current levels of subsidies are appropriate.
4. It should receive more financial support so that fees can be reduced.
5. Other
Question 10. Would you oppose any of the following in order to make facilities more self-supporting? (select all that apply)
1. Higher user fees
2. More ad revenues and sponsorships
3. Private naming rights
4. More reliance on private donations
5. Oppose all of the above
6. Support all of the above
Question 11. In the future, how do you think the excess revenues from liquor sales should be used?
1. As in the past—to subsidize cultural and recreational facilities
2. To reduce property taxes
3. To accelerate or add capital projects, especially street repair
4. Redevelopment (such as Grandview study)
5. Other
Property Taxes
For 2012, the proposed
property tax levy
will increase by
$462,000 or 1.8%
Adjusted for inflation, a $300,000 home in 2012 will pay about the same taxes as in 2005
Property TaxesTax Rates: $300,000 Home in 2010
City Taxes Total Taxes
Minneapolis $1,827 $4,273
Hopkins $1,470 $4,053
Bloomington $1,143 $3,726
St. Louis Park $1,113 $3,719
Minnetonka $ 964 $3,571
Eden Prairie $ 908 $3,614
Edina $ 707 $3,310
In 2008, Edina ranked 94th among 117 metro area cities in residential property tax rate
(1=highest)
Total City portionMinneapolis 10th 1stRichfield 36th 31stSt. Louis Park 45th 48thMinnetonka 55th 72ndWayzata 60th 90thEdina 64th 94th
Question 12. In general, which statement best reflects your opinion of the City’s property tax levels?
1. They are reasonable
2. They are high, but we get good value for our money
3. Compared to other cities, we get a great deal!
4. Reducing property taxes without reducing services should be a city priority
5. Services and taxes should be reduced
6. Other
Question 13.Which principle best reflects the highest priority for Edina’s City budget for the next five years:
1. Avoid property taxes increases, especially with the growing population who live on fixed incomes
2. Maintain quality of services and amenities, because these help create our quality of life
3. Focus on rejuvenating Edina for the future by using surplus funds for capital improvements and redevelopment
4. Make City services more cost-effective by implementing efficiencies and reforms
5. Other
Question 14. In the future, what opportunities should be available for residents regarding City budget decision-making? (select all that apply)
1. Public hearings are sufficient
2. More and clearer information on the City’s website
3. More and clearer information in the newsletter
4. More meetings like this one
5. I feel comfortable letting city officials decide without citizen input
6. Other
Who’s In Attendance?
Question 15. How long have you lived in Edina?
1. Less than 2 years
2. 2-5 years
3. 6-10 years
4. 11-20 years
5. 21+ years
Question 16. What quadrant of Edina do you live in?
1. NE: East of Hwy 100, North of Crosstown
2. NW: West of Hwy 100, North of Crosstown
3. SE: East of Hwy 100, South of Crosstown
4. SW: West of Hwy 100, South of Crosstown
Question 17. Do you have school-aged children (5-18) living at home?
1. Yes
2. No
Question 18.Do you rent or own your home?
1. Rent
2. Own
Question 19.What is your age?
1. Under 19
2. 19-35
3. 36-50
4. 50-65
5. 65+
Thank You!
For workshop summaries and the opportunity for more input and
questions go to:
edinacitizenengagement.org
Public hearing: December 6