CR 01-032 Establish New Capital Improvement Fund
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C\TY OF
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March 1, 2001
HOPKINS
Council Report 01-032
Establish New Capital Improvement Fund
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve the creation of a new
Capital Improvement fund using unexpended revenues.
Adoption of this motion will result in creation of a new capital improvement fund.
Overview
The preliminary 2000 year-end figures conclude that the general fund budget is currently under
budgeted expenditures by approximately $250,000 and that revenues exceed expenditures by
about $250,000. The City of Hopkins Charter states that the city council may authorize the
transfer of sums from unexpended balances for other purposes.
Primary Issues to Consider
. Actual general fund expenditures are under actual revenues by approximately
$250,000.
. The city is in need of a capital improvement fund with fewer restrictions on ..
spending.
Recommendation
Finance recommends establishment of a new capital improvement fund with excess revenue from
2000 general fund operations. A residual transfer of $100,000 from the general fund would
occur to establish this new fund.
Supportin2 Information
Section 7.11 and 7.14 from City Charter
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Lo K. Yager ~
Finance Director
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Council Report 01-032
Page 2
Establish New Capital Improvement Fulid
Finance is recommending that the council consider establishing a capital improvement fund for
improvement needs not covered within the other capital improvement funds.
The current source of income for this fund would be excess revenues over expenditures from the
general fund. The excess revenue over expenditures, in the general fund, is approximately
$250,000. The cause of the excess is two fold, 1) the fire station roof replacement did not occur
in 2000 and has been postponed for further analysis, 2) overall expenditures for the year 2000
were under budget. The amount of excess could change during the preparation of the
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Finance is recommending a residual equity transfer in
the amount of $1 00,000 to start the new capital improvement fund.
Currently the city has only three capital improvement funds. The first is a park improvement
fund with fees derived from new development in the city. This fund is used for park and
recreation improvements. The second is a State Aid improvement fund with revenues coming
from the state for state aid construction projects in the city. This fund is used for state aid
projects. The third is PIR fund which derives its revenues from assessments and taxes. This
fund is used for improvement projects that are associated with assessable improvement projects.
A new capital improvement fund would afford the council an avenue in which to fund capital
improvements, which cannot be funded through current capital funds. An example may be an
improvement, which is not assessable, is not state aid supported or is not related to park and
recreation. Currently this type of improvement has no funding source other than current
revenues.
A continued source of funding for this fund would be excess revenues from the general fund.
Future funding could include grants, reimbursed expenditures, excess PIR funds or additional
levy.
The City is in need of a fund in which to accumulate money's to pay for future improvements.
This fund will initiate that goal.
. FUNDS
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Section 7.11. FUNDS. Subdivision 1. There shall be maintained in the City treasury a general fund
for the payment of such expenses as the Council may deem proper. Into this fund shall be paid all
moneys levied for this fund and all moneys not required to be placed in some other fund.
Subdivision 2. There shall also be maintained in the City treasury such other funds, or divisions of
funds, as the budget shall require or the City Manager and Council shall direct.
Subdivision 3. INVESTMENT OF CITY FUNDS. Any money in any fund belonging to the City, or
any branch thereof, may be invested by the City Manager according to policies adopted by the City
Council by the purchase of any bonds or other obligations authorized by State Statute in the case of
municipalities, and in addition thereto, by the purchase of bonds or other obligations issued by any
Housing or other Public Authority for the City of Hopkins created by or pursuant to Federal or State
Statutes.
Section 7.12. ALL MONEY BELONGING TO THE CITY. All money belonging to the City, or any
branch thereof, excepting only those funds collected by the County Treasurer, shall be paid to the City
Manager by the person authorized to receive the same, without unnecessary delay. All such money,
and also all money received upon tax settlements from the County Treasurer, shall be deposited as
soon as received by the City Manager in a bank or banks approved by the City Council.
Section 7.13. ACCOUNTS AND REPORTS. The City Manager shall be the chief accounting officer
of the City and shall submit to the Council a statement each month containing information relative to
the finances of the City as the Council may require. Each year the City Manager shall submit a report
to the Council, no later than June 30, covering the entire financial operations of the City for the past
year. This report shall follow the style and form, as far as practicable, prescribed for annual City
financial reports and copies will be made available to interested parties.
DEBT
Section 7.14. BONDED DEBT AND DEBT LIMIT. Subdivision 1. In addition to all the powers in
respect to borrowing and the issuance of bonds and certificates of indebtedness specifically or implied
granted by this Charter, and any amendments thereto, the City shall have all the powers with reference
to these matters authorized for cities of the same class by the laws of the State of Minnesota. The City
shall also have the power to issue and sell its bonds to the State of Minnesota or the United States.
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Subdivision 2. Without submitting the issue to a vote of the voters, the Council by a four-fifths vote
may authorize the issuance of Permanent Improvement Revolving Fund Bonds (PIR Bonds); and
Bonds to pay for any improvement the cost of which is to be assessed against benefited property; and
Bonds for any purpose which will produce revenue to the City; and Bonds for any other purpose
authorized to be issued by this Charter or the Laws of Minnesota without such vote. The Council shall
maintain the integrity of the Principal received from the sale of PIR Bonds creating the Permanent
Revolving Fund by appropriations from other funds, if necessary. All improvement projects financed
through the Permanent Improvement Revolving Fund shall upon completion be certified by the City
Manager as to total cost, which shall thereupon be apportioned by the Council, either as assessments
against benefited property or as amounts due from other City funds. Amounts apportioned against
other City funds shall be due not later than the dates of adoption of the corresponding assessment rolls
and shall be paid into the Permanent Improvement Revolving Fund not later than the dates of
installment provided in such assessment rolls. Upon approval by the voters, the Principal of the
Permanent Improvement Revolving Fund may be transferred at interest by the City Council for any
use or purpose for which General Obligation Bonds can be issued, provided the Principal of the PIR
Fund thus transferred, together with interest, is repaid in annual installments of not more than thirty
years. Monies in such Permanent Improvement Revolving Fund which have accumulated therein
from any source, in excess of the Principal, may be transferred from such PIR Fund by the City
Council for any City purposes by proper resolution of the Council stating such purposes.
Subdivision 3. The Council may by a majority vote of all of its members submit to the voters
propositions for the issuance of bonds for any public purpose not prohibited by law, and no such
bonds so voted on shall be issued except pursuant to a favorable vote of a majority of those voters who
vote on the proposition of their issuance.
Subdivision 4. The bonded debt ofthe City shall not exceed the limitations imposed by state law.
Section 7.15. FORM AND REPAYMENT OF BONDS. All bonds of the City shall be issued
pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 475 and other applicable provisions of State Law.
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