Office of the City Manager
Mayor Frese and Members of the Tonganoxie City Council: It is my pleasure to present the City of Tonganoxie 2021 Adopted Budget, which was approved by the City Council on August 3, 2020 by a vote of 4-1. The Adopted Budget communicates the City’s immediate and long term plan for continuing to deliver high-quality city services at a reasonable cost to Tonganoxie residents and visitors. The development of the 2021 budget included numerous opportunities for policy direction from the Governing Body and input from residents of Tonganoxie. Dedicated public hearing opportunities were held on June 15 and July 6 and staff also analyzed & presented the results of an online survey tool offered to utility customers. Following the Spring Retreat, the Governing Body held a Capital Maintenance & Improvement focused session, reviewed the Base Proposed Budget at the June 1 regular meeting, and completed four additional budget work sessions before final adoption. Budget Overview The maximum expenditure budget authority proposed in 2021 totals $8,967,609. The total planned expenditures for all funds (including non-budgeted funds) in 2021 is $8,706,375, which is a decrease of 8% from 2020. The total property tax levy is $2,047,209, which is an increase of 7% over the total tax levy in 2020. The increase in property tax revenue represents the entirety of collections from all newly annexed properties within the City limits, the difference in collections from properties changed in use, and the effect of increased overall assessed valuation of existing properties by the Leavenworth County Appraiser. The total property tax revenue also includes $355,337 collected and remitted to the Tonganoxie Public Library. Other key revenue assumptions include flat franchise fees, anticipation of 1% increase in collection of City Sales & Use Tax and a 3% decrease in the City’s share of Leavenworth County Sales and Use Tax. Programmed use of the 3/4 cent Infrastructure Sales Tax is a key component of the 2021 budget. $262,900 is dedicated towards the debt service commitments associated with the City’s $3.75M investment in the Tonganoxie Public Library facility completed in 2020. In addition, $105,000 is allocated towards the fourth consecutive year of funding support for increased levels of maintenance and preservation of City street infrastructure and $55,000 is allocated to assist in funding a project to improve the Church Street Bridge. This set of strategic investments continues to focus on the City’s diverse infrastructure maintenance needs. The City’s Capital Projects Fund, which receives the City’s share of the Leavenworth County Sales & Use tax, is also primarily dedicated to supporting infrastructure & equipment investments in 2021, including the majority of the funding planned for replacement of the Church Street Bridge. Some of the major initiatives included for funding in the 2021 General Fund budget include rewarding high levels of staff performance by making a 3% merit pool available to full time City employees, redesigning the City’s website to improve communication & transparency, updating the City’s Municipal Court software to integrate with other business process platforms, completing a compensation analysis, and supporting the Tonganoxie Arts Council & Tonganoxie Historical Society through either direct funding or updates to directional signage. The budget for the City’s utility funds includes support for replacement of several key pieces of equipment in order to ensure continuation of service provision and allow the City to maintain desired Page 1 of 50
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