Discussion:
September 2018 Review (See Attachment)
Revenue Variances (+/- 10% of 75% Target)
- Taxes - Received first half taxes in June, second half payment will come in December.
- Special Assessments - This remains a negative revenue amount through the first half collection of property taxes. The negative amount is result of the payment to Republic Services for delinquent garbage bills. The city will recoup this payment through special assessments levied against the delinquent account holders. The second half tax collection in December will account for the remainder of the variance with special assessment revenues.
- Licenses & Permits - Experienced another strong month in September with $205,082 of license and permit receipts. Year-to-date revenues have exceeded the 2017 budget by $524,000.
- Intergovermental - The last couple months this line item had been below the monthly target, but in September the city received its Police and Fire State Aid of approximately $650,000.
- Charges for Services - Recorded monthly revenue of $346,752. Contractual police services accounted for $27,120, along with SPUC franchise fees of $176,000, and Community Center/Ice Arena rental and programming of $91,300.
- Fines & Forfeits - Fines and forfeits revenue has exceeded the 2017 budget allotment of $1,500. A majority of the revenues in this category come from late fees associated with the monthly lodging tax submittals and payments related to the driving diversion program.
- Miscellaneous - Interest earning receipts are slightly higher than anticipated.
Expenditure Variances (+/- 10% of 75% Target)
- Finance - is slightly above budget due to the timing of service contract payments such as assessing and auditing services.
- Engineering - is below budget due to personnel vacancies earlier in the year.
- Street Maintenance - is remains slightly higher than budget due to the timing of the chip sealing and striping contracts that amounted to approximately $410,000. The chip sealing contract was paid in June of this year compared to September in the prior year. In addition, the 2017 trail sealcoat and crack seal project of $68,000 was paid in September. As the construction season nears an end, budget to actual expenditures will begin to draw closer.
- Unallocated - This division accounts for items that cannot be specifically assigned to specific departments or divisions. Included in this division is the city's contingency allotment of $110,000.
- All other departments/divisions are within +/-10% of the September 30, 2017 target date.
Community Center & Ice Arena Year-over-Year Comparison (See Attachment)
Ice arena revenues are at $407,751 through September 30, which is approximately $192,000 greater than this same time last year. Ice rental revenues are expected to begin ramping up as the association hockey season has already started and will be in full operation by the end of October.
Ice arena expenditures are remaining steady from month-to-month. As previously mentioned we are monitoring the utility costs, as the gas and electric charges are more than originally anticipated. The ice arena should recognize a savings in part-time salaries that will offset the utility variance.
Community center revenues surpassed the 2017 budget back in August. We are still anticipating a significant number of new and renewing memberships between now and the end of the calendar year.
Community center expenditures are running within the overall anticipated budget. The aquatics center just came on-line in July, which will have an effect on both revenues and expenditures. Electric charges have about doubled since about July 1, which is likely a combination of summer cooling costs and the aquatics center opening.