City Budget for Fiscal Year 2007

Adopted Budget Book 1 of 2
For Fiscal Year (FY) ending June 30, 2007
Presented and Approved by the Mayor and City Council on March 8, 2006

Book 2 | Capital Improvements | Popular Budget

1. Table of Contents
   (PDF: 3 pages, 77.47KB)
   
   
2. Letter of Transmittal
   (PDF: 9 pages, 130.41KB)
   An introduction to the report. Prepared by Acting City Manager James H. Flitz and City Controller-Auditor Casey J. Drew
   
   
3. Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
   (PDF: 1 page, 59.51KB)
   Presented to the City for its Annual Budget Report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2006 by the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. & Canada.
   
   
4. Introduction
   (PDF: 11 pages, 285.65KB)
   The City of Cedar Rapids, incorporated in 1849, starting in 2006 will operate under the City Manager form of government. Under this form of government, the council consists of eight part-time council members and a part-time mayor. A full-time city manager will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the City.
   
   The City provides the following services: public safety, public works, solid waste collection, animal control, parking, ground transportation, community development, and municipal water and sewer. The City also provides cultural and recreational opportunities through various departments and commissions.
   
   This budget includes all funds, departments, boards, and commissions of the City. In addition, our two component units, The Eastern Iowa Airport and Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency are included in this budget.
   
   
5. Overview
   (PDF: 9 pages, 133.13KB)
   The FY 2007 budget is $306.2 million. Of this amount, property taxes will fund $82.9 million, or 27% of the total.
   
   Cedar Rapids has consistently maintained one of the lowest property tax rates of the larger cities in the State of Iowa. This budget is no exception in that our projected property tax rate will increase approximately 40 cents and Cedar Rapids will still maintain one of the lowest property tax rates in the State as compared to the other large cities.
   
   
6. Comparatives
   (PDF: 21 pages, 256.22 KB)
   The City is constantly reviewing its operations to determine where services can be improved and where cost savings can be realized. An important part of this process is to compare to previous fiscal years as well as comparing ourselves with other cities.
   
   
7. Hotel-Motel Tax Allocations
   (PDF: 2 pages, 73.38KB)
   The City estimates it will receive $2.04 million of Hotel-Motel tax. This tax is based upon seven percent of the applicable room rates. Four different categories have been identified for which eligible entities are invited to apply for and receive operating or capital grants. In three of the categories the City Council utilizes citizen’s groups to make recommendations for these allocations.
   
   
8. State Forms
   (PDF: 7 pages, 7.46MB)
   The State of Iowa prescribes forms, which must be used by all cities in preparing their budgets. The following forms; Notice of Public Hearing Budget Estimate, Adoption of Budget and Certification of Taxes, Adopted Budget Summary, Requirements Schedule, Resources Detail, Long-Term Debt Schedule, and Fund Balance Worksheet are therefore included herein.
   
   
9. Line Item Budget
   (PDF: 16 pages, 275KB)
   The City of Cedar Rapids budgets on a line item or object of expenditure level within each department to establish accountability for departmental operations; however budgetary results are measured on a total departmental basis.
   
   
10. Capital Projects Funds
    (PDF: 4 pages, 62.67KB)
    Capital Projects Funds are utilized to account for financial resources to be used for the acquisition or construction of capital facilities and other major fixed assets, with the exception of those that are financed by Enterprise Funds monies. Capital projects for Enterprise Funds activities are accounted for in the Capital Projects Funds when the projects are financed with other than Enterprise monies.
    
    
11. Debt Service Funds
    (PDF: 3 pages, 57.18KB)
    The Debt Service Fund is used to account for the accumulation of resources for and the payment of, general long-term and special assessment debt principal, interest, and related costs.
    
    
12. Enterprise Funds
    (PDF: 61 pages, 1.03MB)
    Enterprise Funds are utilized to account for operations and activities that are financed and operated in a manner similar to a private business enterprise, and where the cost of providing goods and services to the general public on a continuing basis is expected to be financed or recovered primarily through user charges.
    
    
13. General Fund
    (PDF: 7 pages, 72.41KB)
    The General Fund, the general operating fund of the City, accounts for all the financial resources, except those required to be accounted for by other funds. The revenues are primarily derived from general property taxes, charges for services, licenses and permits, and government grants. The expenditures related to general administration, public safety, streets, and parks and recreational activities are included herein.
    
    
14. Internal Service Funds
    (PDF: 15 pages, 318.57KB)
    Internal Service Funds are used to account for the financing of goods or services provided by one department or agency to other departments or agencies of the City, or to other governments, on a cost reimbursement basis. The City has three internal service funds: Public Works Facility, Joint Communications Center, and Risk Management Fund.
    
    
15. Special Revenue Funds
    (PDF: 6 pages, 77.9KB)
    Special Revenue Funds are utilized to account for revenues derived from specific sources, which are required to be accounted for as separate funds.
    
    
16. Trust and Agency Funds
    (PDF: 3 pages, 56.02KB)
    The Trust and Agency Funds are used to account for assets held by the City in a trustee or custodial capacity for the City’s three retirement funds and for other entities, such as individuals, private organizations, or other governmental units. These fund types are further classified as expendable trust funds or pension trust funds.
    
    
17. Program Budget
    (PDF: 45 pages, 802.57KB)
    Annually, the City prepares and adopts a Program Budget as prescribed by the State of Iowa. The state’s formal and legal budgetary control is based on ten major classes of disbursements, known as functions. The functions are: Public Safety, Public Works, Health and Social Services, General Government, Cultural and Recreation, Community and Economic Development, Debt Service, Capital Projects, Business Type and Non-Program.
    
    
18. Cash Transfers
    (PDF: 2 pages, 59.05KB)
    In order for the City to comply with Iowa law, local ordinances, or for expedience, it is sometimes necessary to transfer revenues and expenditures (cash transfers) from one fund/department to another. All transfers in are considered revenues and all transfers out are considered expenditures. Citywide, transfers in must equal transfer outs.
    
    
19. Personal Services Summary
    (PDF: 24 pages, 337.82KB)
    The Personal Services Summary report includes salaries and wages as well as related benefits. This report is presented by position within each department. There is an authorized (budgeted) full time equivalent(s) (FTEs) for each position. One FTE is considered to be available to work 2,080 hours annually, which represents the normal work year for a regular full-time employee.
    
    
20. Municipal Utilities
    (PDF: 1 page, 65.17KB)
    The City of Cedar Rapids provides the following utilities: Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer, and Solid Waste & Recycling. These utilities are billed on a combination billing. The following is a representation of an average residential bill for two months.