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City Council gives final OK to fund plans
By Rebekah Danaher
Daily News staff writer
Councilors shared congratulatory handshakes after Monday night's meeting during which they approved the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds, Home Investment Partnership Funds, Business Improvement District plan and budget and the city's 2005 budget and tax levy.
The budgets were the products of countless man-hours and the focus of months of committee meetings and public hearings.
The council approved the Community Development Authority's final recommendations for the allocation of the CDBG funds, following a brief presentation from Community Development Director Julie Christensen.
The city also approved the 2005 Business Improvement District plan and budget, presented by Todd Colling and Kathleen Braatz from the Downtown Beloit Association.
Colling, chairman of the DBA board, explained the budgeting was complicated by the loss of TIF funding, but said the association managed to limit the increase in assessed valuation to 15 cents per thousand.
Braatz, DBA executive director, gave the council a preview of one of the association's new downtown activities - Holidazzle, which, like ArtWalk, is intended to promote Beloit as an art community by inviting artisans and musicians into downtown on Dec.10.
Braatz said some 32 organizations are expected to host the artists on that day.
The council also gave final approval to the 2005 budget and tax levy.
Director of Finance and Administrative Services Paul York recapped the budget's highlights, including a $69 million operating budget and a $12 million capital improvements budget, totaling nearly $81 million.
The tax rate of $7.90 per thousand decreased by 6.2 percent from $8.41 in 2004.
The average value of a home in Beloit is $76,278 and at a tax rate of $7.90, residents will pay $602 in city taxes.
In 2004, the average home value was estimated at $71,390 and with a tax rate of $8.41, residents paid $564 in city taxes.
The 2005 municipal property tax levy of $9,773,950 increased by 0.40 percent from last year.
"The city will levy a total of $9.8 million in property taxes," York said.
The budget, having encountered little opposition along the way, was passed unanimously by the council.
The council passed an ordinance amending the zoning district map for 1025 and 1111 Burton Street from an R-3 Multifamily Residential District to Planned Unit Development District.
The plan allows for the development of eight 12-unit multi-family apartments.
Councilors Marty Densch and Doug Eddy said they visited the designated development site following concerns voiced by a resident living near the lots.
Both said they were confident the plan will not disturb the area and will be an asset to the community.
Three resolutions regarding the development of the Parkmeadow North Subdivision Plat were held over to the next meeting due to a change in the plans requested by the developer that will require the city to consult with the planning commission.
City Manager Larry Arft updated the council and citizens on the misprinted sewer bills, which he noted to be "a very high profile error."
Arft explained that the software had crashed while the bills for October were being printed. The staff restarted the process, causing the printed balance to incorrectly list a credit.
Arft apologized to Beloit residents on behalf of the city and said the corrected bills were in the mail.
The budgets were the products of countless man-hours and the focus of months of committee meetings and public hearings.
The council approved the Community Development Authority's final recommendations for the allocation of the CDBG funds, following a brief presentation from Community Development Director Julie Christensen.
The city also approved the 2005 Business Improvement District plan and budget, presented by Todd Colling and Kathleen Braatz from the Downtown Beloit Association.
Colling, chairman of the DBA board, explained the budgeting was complicated by the loss of TIF funding, but said the association managed to limit the increase in assessed valuation to 15 cents per thousand.
Braatz, DBA executive director, gave the council a preview of one of the association's new downtown activities - Holidazzle, which, like ArtWalk, is intended to promote Beloit as an art community by inviting artisans and musicians into downtown on Dec.10.
Braatz said some 32 organizations are expected to host the artists on that day.
The council also gave final approval to the 2005 budget and tax levy.
Director of Finance and Administrative Services Paul York recapped the budget's highlights, including a $69 million operating budget and a $12 million capital improvements budget, totaling nearly $81 million.
The tax rate of $7.90 per thousand decreased by 6.2 percent from $8.41 in 2004.
The average value of a home in Beloit is $76,278 and at a tax rate of $7.90, residents will pay $602 in city taxes.
In 2004, the average home value was estimated at $71,390 and with a tax rate of $8.41, residents paid $564 in city taxes.
The 2005 municipal property tax levy of $9,773,950 increased by 0.40 percent from last year.
"The city will levy a total of $9.8 million in property taxes," York said.
The budget, having encountered little opposition along the way, was passed unanimously by the council.
The council passed an ordinance amending the zoning district map for 1025 and 1111 Burton Street from an R-3 Multifamily Residential District to Planned Unit Development District.
The plan allows for the development of eight 12-unit multi-family apartments.
Councilors Marty Densch and Doug Eddy said they visited the designated development site following concerns voiced by a resident living near the lots.
Both said they were confident the plan will not disturb the area and will be an asset to the community.
Three resolutions regarding the development of the Parkmeadow North Subdivision Plat were held over to the next meeting due to a change in the plans requested by the developer that will require the city to consult with the planning commission.
City Manager Larry Arft updated the council and citizens on the misprinted sewer bills, which he noted to be "a very high profile error."
Arft explained that the software had crashed while the bills for October were being printed. The staff restarted the process, causing the printed balance to incorrectly list a credit.
Arft apologized to Beloit residents on behalf of the city and said the corrected bills were in the mail.
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| Keep watch out for signs | Block grant allocations approved |
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