Victoria City Council — Transcript
Monday, June 22, 2026
2027 Preliminary Budget Overview and Process
Property Tax Projections and Tax Base Growth
Key Budget Pressures and Cost Drivers
Park and Trail Capital Funds Restructuring
Levy Impact and Individual Property Taxes
Staffing Needs Evaluation
Downtown Initiatives: Welcome Sign and Wayfinding
Future Public Safety Model
Future Asset Management and Funding
Votes (2)
2027 Preliminary Budget Workshop
The workshop served as the initial review of the 2027 preliminary budget. Key discussions included detailed property tax projections, the impact of new construction and TIF districts on the tax base, and significant budget pressures from employee costs, infrastructure needs, and contractual services. The Council provided direction on staffing needs, the restructuring of park and trail funds, and downtown initiatives. The Mayor emphasized the need to consider the city's growing population when evaluating future staffing and service models, particularly regarding police services. No formal votes were cast on budget items, as it was a workshop for feedback.
Adjournment of Workshop
Moved by Councilmember Roberts [1:07:29] · Seconded by Councilmember Ivansky [1:07:32]
Following the comprehensive discussion and direction provided to staff on the 2027 preliminary budget, a motion was made to adjourn the workshop.
Notable Quotes (5)
Welcome to our first 2027 budget workshop. The agenda includes the 2027 preliminary uh property tax projections, the preliminary budget, and then also we'll leave some time for discussion. So, this is a starting point for our budget discussions which will be held regularly over the next 6 months. While you're not voting on a budget today, we'll be looking for direction and feedback.
This is becoming an increasingly thorny issue that the city of Victoria does need to think about because with $73,000 being under 10% increase um we're probably staring down $800,000 a year for police services... I mean, if we're doing gun permits and liquor license renewals and you know, those are the kind of meat and potatoes of what our police force is responding to totally different than having that not that it couldn't happen but you know, there are other instances of crime in other communities or what I'll say more concentrated on resources to investigate and prosecute those crimes that we that we don't have here. So, it may be time to for us to start at least getting a little bit of a view on does it look like it makes sense for us to do that and that could also shape the decision-making when the county is sitting there and putting together what they think they should charge the city of Victoria.
We are underutilizing GIS and there's there's a we're just scratching the surface with what it can be what can be done and the number of hours. I mean, we're we're barely keeping up. There is a backlog of work to do just to keep up with data inputting with the growth that we're having. So, one of the things that we're evaluating is do we have enough work currently and long-term where are gaps? What don't we know? What Where are those opportunities for growth? And do that Does that investment offset the um the additional cost for having a staff? And can you keep somebody busy long-term?
Okay, on this item, I I would favor kicking the digital welcome sign into 28 and prioritizing the wayfinding.
I would say that we struggled a lot when we had the decisions about what we wanted as a to bring for our community in terms of park products. And um we found that what would be beneficial and useful is a bit unattainable because we didn't put a certain amount aside for it. And I think it merits us taking a deeper dive to say what can we do to fund what we saw was a a million dollar shortfall with where we wanted to provide the services that we felt that community needed and the resources that we had to do it. So, given that uh we have I it seems like a favorable climate in terms of where we can come in levy-wise, I I I think it behooves us to uh look to see if we can make some progress there as well.
Ordinances & Resolutions (14)
The primary agenda item for the workshop, initial draft for review.
The overall budget under discussion, to be adopted in December.
Schedule of meetings and milestones for the budget adoption process.
Proposed schedule of fees and charges to be presented in August.
Budget presented in August based on feedback from preliminary discussions.
Plan reviewed in November, detailing capital needs.
Final budget presentation before adoption in December.
Council-determined goals and objectives guiding priority-driven budgeting.
10-plus year projection for future debt and capital needs.
State-mandated plan, creating a 3-year budget pressure of $250,000.
Bill received by property owners, inclusive of all taxing jurisdictions.
State-mandated revenue sharing program for Twin Cities metro and Iron Range cities.
Tax increment financing district, diverts new tax capacity for development (e.g., Roers, Olivine).
Plan to be completed later this summer, informing street maintenance adjustments.