Budget Transmittal FY 2002CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
January 4, 2001
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Transmittal
The City of Dubuque is about to embark on the City's most ambitious effort ever to enhance our
quality of life and to invest in our future. This year's almost $56 million operating budget is
combined with an unprecedented $148 million five year capital improvement program, the $188
million investment in America's River project, and over $200 million in investment by the State
of Illinois, State of Wisconsin and State of Io~va over five years to 4-lane and/or improve roads.
This includes 4-1aning Highway 151 to Cedar Rapids and Madison, Highway 20 to 1-35 north of
Ames, improvements to Highway 20 to Chicago, and the Northwest and Southwest Arterials.
This all comes on the heals of many other prior accomplishments, including:
The creation of a 20 year supply of City-owned land encompassing 900 acres in five
industrial parks in an effort to create over 10,000 jobs;
The opening up of thousands of acres for development with water and sewer extensions;
· Seven million dollars being invested to renovate existing City parks and the creation of
13 new parks consisting of 60 acres;
· The investment of over $35 million in the City streets since 1995, with over 35% of the
streets being reconstructed or resurfaced;
· Fourteen police officers being added and Community-Oriented Policing implemented, to
maintain Dubuque as one of the safest places to live;
· Millions of dollars invested to modernize Fire Department equipment and improve the
radio communications county-wide;
· A commitment of$15 million in Airport improvements and the arrival of regional jets
from American Eagle;
· A multi-million dollar commitment for Neighborhood Reinvestment, Historic
Preservation and Downtown Revitalization; and
· In the area of technology, the City has invested in a Geographic Information System
(GIS), is developing a web page and has gone to a papertess agenda, which will all lead
to greater access to information by citizens.
These investments in our community are being made following the Vision, Goals and Priorities
established by the Mayor and City Council.
Our Vision for the Community
As a "hometown for our families" Dubuque is a place...
where we can raise a healthy family
· where ail generations of families can live and play together
· where there are abundant job oppommities that support family wages
· where families can visit and be the guests of our community
City Council Goals
In five years the Council wants the following for the community:
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Improved Transportation Network
Strong Local Economy
A "Baianced" Community
Safe Community
Riverfront Development
Top Quality City Services
City Council Priorities
Top Prior/W:
Affordable Housing
Highway 20
Incentives to Attract/Expand Businesses
Riverfront Land Acquisition
Hizh PrioriW:
Riverfront Land Uses and Development Standards
Telephony: Infrastructure
Historic Preservation
Town Clock Plaza
Moderate Prior/tv:
Street Program
Traffic Synchronization Downtown
Compensation Policy for Professionais
This budget is submitted with no increase in property taxes for the average homeowner. This
will be combined with no increase in water rates, a 6¢ per month increase in refuse collection
rates (unless the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency raises landfill tipping fees
more than the $1.00 per ton mandated by the State) and a 4% increase in sewer rates, because of
the loss of our largest customer, Farmland Foods/John Morrell.
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This is the seventh consecutive year that the amount the average homeowner pays in property
taxes has not increased, in fact, in four of those years property taxes decreased. Over that same
seven year period, the cost of City services for the average homeowner has increased by only
$7.71, or an average of $1.10 per year.
I am proud to say that I am also submitting an affordable plan to address the City Council
priority related to compensation for professional employees. This plan would modify the City
Pay Plan beginning in Fiscal Year 2003, and put these employees closer to the average pay for
comparable cities.
This year there will be some staff additions, with the most significant being a new clerical person
at Police, partly funded by the County, a new maintenance position in Parks to handle the new
industrial parks and the Highway 20 corridor, a Transportation Planner at the East Central
Intergovernmental Association (ECIA) to assist the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation
Study (DMATS), with most of the funding coming from the federal government, and a police
dog for building searches and to find drugs.
These additions are being partially offset by staff reducti0ns. With the reduction in wastewater
because of the closing of Farmland Foods/John Morrell, one position will be eliminated at the
Water Pollution Control Plant. The Transit Service review has identified a more economical
vehicle maintenance arrangement, with Operations and Maintenance taking over vehicle
maintenance and two mechanic positions and a service worker position being eliminated.
While hiring a full-time Historic Preservation Planner was not affordable without a property tax
increase, $100,000 per year, for a total of $500,000, is recommended to begin the Historic Public
Improvement Program. Also $200,000 is recommended to match privately-raised money to
create a loan pool to assist with historic preservation and to supplement the CDBG Program that
only assists low and moderate income families.
This significant investment in our community is warranted because all is not perfect and we must
be prepared to avoid decline and stagnation and prepare for growth and prosperity.
In 1980, 43,700 people were working in Dubuque County. In 1990, that number had risen
slightly to 46,000. By April 1, 2000, that number had increased dramatically to 52,700, and even
with the summer layoff of 1,100 people at Farmland Foods/John Morrell, in November 2000,
there were 52,900 people working in Dubuque County. From 1980 to 1990 employment was up
5.2%. From 1990 to 2000 employment was up 15%, triple the rate of the previous decade,
representing almost 7,000 new jobs.
We are being told by the Census officials that we may have a very slight increase in population,
not the 4%-5% growth ~ve had expected. Hopefully, this ~vill just make our resolve to do the
things we need to do to thrive that much stronger, so when the 2010 census comes around there
will be no disappointment.
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Best selling author Harry S. Dent, Jr. writes in his book The Roaring 2000's that within the next
thirty years, a new social ethic will reshape the American Dream, and ne~v technology will make
it possible. We are about to witness the resurgence of this country's venerable ideal of
individualism and simple community living while our sophisticated communications technology
will give us ready access to most of the information, education, and entertainment we need. An
enormous number of people will escape overcrowded, expensive suburbs and move to a variety
of attractive small towns and new-growth cities. I believe Dubuque is positioning itself well for
the growth to come.
I would like to say how much I appreciate the courageous and entrepreneurial leadership of the
Mayor and City Council and how much I enjoy working with Corporation Counsel Barry
Lindahl and City Clerk Jeanne Schneider.
I would like to thank Administrative Service Manager Pauline Joyce, Office Manager Juanita
Hilkin, Secretary Kevin Fimstahl, the Department Managers and Commissions for all their hard
work on this budget.
I respectfully submit this budget to the Mayor and City Council for consideration and
deliberation. While I know that all needs and requests were not met, I believe the budget as
presented keeps the community moving forward in a fiscally-responsible manner.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
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DATE DAY
CITY COUNCIL'S FISCAL YEAR 2002
BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULE
TIME PLACE TOPIC
January 15 Monday 6:30 p.m.
February 7 Wednesday 6:15 p.m.
February 12 Monday 6:15 p.m.
Library
Budget document presentation to
City Council at Council Meeting
Parking
Finance
City Manager
City Council
City Clerk
Legal
Emergency Communications Ctr
Emergency Management
Fire
Health Services
Police
February 15 Thursday 6:15 p.m.
February 21 Wednesday 6:15 p.m.
February 26 Monday 6:15 p.m.
February 27 Tuesday 6:15 p.m.
March 6 Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Library
Airport
Water Pollution Control
Library
Building
Civic Center
Recreation
Park
Information Services
Cable TV
Community/Econ Development
Planning
Housing
Human Rights
Water
Operations and Maintenance
Engineering
Transit
Purchase of Services
Public Hearing