HomeMy WebLinkAbout[09c] Finance Department Report
LORI BARTLETT
FINANCE DIRECTOR
75 Callaway Street East
St Joseph, MN 56374
lbartlett@cityofstjoseph.com
FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
DATE: April 16, 2020
SUMMARY
The Finance Department is wrapping up the audit. The draft report has been reviewed. Staff writing the
Management Discussion and Analysis to add in front of the financial statements. The audit will be
presented to Council in May.
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Retro pay was paid April 16 for non-union and LELS employees. Adjustments to benefits based on the
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new contracts will be implemented with the April 22 pay check.
Lori working with Kris, Terry and Randy to review funding available for potential CIP projects.
Lori and Therese met with business owner regarding revolving loan program.
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Utility bills were due April 15. Penalties and interest were not charged; shut off notices were not sent.
Staff was directed to not shut off water during the emergency declaration. The number of unpaid utility
bills are a little higher than the last bill period. In February, we had 9.2% of the accounts unpaid on the
due date. For April, we saw 9.7% uncollected with an average bill of $183. We are successful with
collections before we shut off water. Staff will continue to monitor to see what the impact is with the
current economic climate.
Mary contacted all facility renters to cancel their reservations from Mid-March through April to give
them the option to reschedule or receive a refund. A few have asked about May also. Staff is allowing a
refund for May if renters feel unsafe to congregate.
Lori is monitoring property tax, local option sales tax and other revenues, along with the State’s reaction
to their budget. We do have about 2.5 months in reserves. We budget conservatively for local option
sales tax collections. Staff will monitor during the year.
Finance is tracking costs relating to COVID-19 in Fund 103.
Performance Measures survey completed.
Assessment searches for property owners either refinancing or selling their homes has been busy the
first quarter. Mortgage rates are still very favorable and market valuations are up. This results in an
increase in final meter reads as well. Remodel work is up and likely causing locates to increase. ?
Budget work has begun. Lori provided dept heads their capital budgets to start working on. The
operational budgets will go out soon. The next council workshop will be good to provide council
priorities both from a project and operational perspective.
STAFF
Finance has been working remotely mainly due to COVID-19. This is working out as we modify how
we complete our work.
Open gym staff were not scheduled since mid-March. We may lose a couple of them due to graduation
and lack of hours/pay.
Lori participated in a couple webinars to assist with handling emergency response.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
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Audit preliminary with BerganKDV – April 22
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MnGFOA webinar April 22 to discuss impact of revenue collection losses
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Board of Equalization meeting has been canceled for April 27 for in person. Property owners will still
have the ability to meet with County staff to discuss valuations via teleconference. Contact the Stearns
County Assessor at 320-656-3680 to set up the meeting.
Water meter reading devices were ordered and will be updated soon
-LORI
C O U N T Y O F S T E A R N S
ASSESSOR’S OFFICE
Administration Center RM 37 705 Courthouse Square St. Cloud, MN 56303
320/656-3680 Fax: 320/229-7032
www.co.stearns.mn.us
To: Saint Joseph City Board
From: Adam Spah
Date: March 26, 2020
Re: 2020 Assessment Report
For the 2020 assessment there were a total of 90 residential/seasonal sales used in the state
study which uses sales from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. These sales
resulted in a preliminary median ratio of 91% before time adjustment. The sales ratio is
calculated by taking the estimated market value divided by the sale price, and then adjusting it
for time to January 2, 2020.
Below are the average market value changes for properties in Saint Joseph City for the 2020
assessment for taxes payable in 2021.
Agriculture 0%
Residential +3-7%
Annex +3-4%
Commercial/ Industrial +2-4%
Apartments +5-8%
Please keep in mind that these are only averages. Some properties may have changed more or
less depending on the characteristics of the property and if it was viewed during the assessment
cycle and changes were made.
Thank You,
Adam Spah
Appraiser
Stearns County Assessor’s Office
Phone - 320-656-6558