Three Essential Spreadsheets

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Three essential spreadsheets are posted on this web page that reveal the Taxpayer UNfriendly status of the City of Lebanon finances.

 

1. Lebanon Civil City Property Tax Rates

Lebanon's municipal property tax rate has increased each of the past seven years. The 93 percent total increase is alarming when one considers there has been almost no city population growth and inflation has increased less than 10 percent.

Lebanon Civil City Property Tax Rates

(Compiled June 1, 2015)

Sources:

A. Notices to Taxpayers of Boone County of Tax Rates Charged

B. Consumer Price Indexes tabulated at http://www.finplaneducation.net/consumer_price_index.htm 

C. City of Lebanon Population tabulated at http://www.finplaneducation.net/population_data.htm 

D. Lebanon Community School Corporation Annual Performance Reports

Pay 2010

Pay 2011

Pay 2012

Pay 2013

Pay 2014

Pay 2015

% Increase

2015 vs 2008

General Fund

0.4129

0.4633

0.5596

0.5504

0.5741

0.5625

Motor Vehicle Highway

0.0387

0.0351

0.0490

0.0713

0.0501

0.0554

Park and Recreation

0.0474

0.0287

0.0581

0.0713

0.0776

0.0859

Sanitation

0.0179

0.0201

0.0280

0.0427

0.0258

0.0285

Cumulative Capital

0.0278

0.0278

0.0278

0.0237

0.0234

0.0234

Storm Water Debt Service

0.0348

0.0981

0.0341

0.0917

0.0690

0.0708

Park Pool Debt Service

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0354

0.0616

TOTAL CITY RATE

0.5795

0.6731

0.7566

0.8511

0.8554

0.8881

93.32%

Consumer Price Index

218.056

224.939

229.594

232.957

236.736

236.599

9.89%

City of Lebanon Population

15,792

15,756

15,754

15,807

15,836

15,865

1.90%

LCSC Free/Reduced-Price Lunches

40.7%

43.3%

42.2%

43.6%

41.4%

Pay 2004

Pay 2005

Pay 2006

Pay 2007

Pay 2008

Pay 2009

General Fund

0.3542

0.3595

0.3693

0.2468

0.3145

0.3561

Motor Vehicle Highway

0.0076

0.0082

0.0032

0.0000

0.0200

0.0227

Park and Recreation

0.0532

0.0574

0.0339

0.0338

0.0489

0.0312

Sanitation

0.0142

0.0153

0.0025

0.0068

0.0066

0.0249

Cumulative Capital

0.0299

0.0299

0.0299

0.0278

0.0278

0.0278

Police Pension Fund

0.0000

0.0000

0.0107

0.0486

0.0000

0.0000

Fire Pension Fund

0.0118

0.0117

0.0376

0.0794

0.0000

0.0000

Storm Water Debt Service

0.0397

0.0638

0.0682

0.0693

0.0416

0.0817

TOTAL CITY RATE

0.5106

0.5458

0.5553

0.5125

0.4594

0.5444

Consumer Price Index

188.9

195.3

201.6

207.342

215.303

214.537

City of Lebanon Population

15,069

15,186

15,425

15,518

15,569

15,731

LCSC Free/Reduced-Price Lunches

31%

30%

33%

38%

39%

Pay 1998

Pay 1999

Pay 2000

Pay 2001

Pay 2002

Pay 2003

General Fund

0.3545

0.3122

Motor Vehicle Highway

0.0178

0.0129

Park and Recreation

0.0901

0.0936

Sanitation

0.0246

0.0000

Cumulative Capital

0.0433

0.0297

Police Pension Fund

0.0197

0.0056

Fire Pension Fund

0.0176

0.0086

Storm Water Debt Service

0.1692

0.1014

TOTAL CITY RATE

0.7368

0.5640

Consumer Price Index

163.0

166.6

172.2

177.1

179.9

184.0

City of Lebanon Population

14,222

14,776

14,874

14,952

LCSC Free/Reduced-Price Lunches

23%

18%

21%

24%

26%

 

2. City of Lebanon Cash Reserves

Below is the City of Lebanon Cash Reserves spreadsheet showing that on December 31, 2014, (1) the General Fund cash reserve was 59 percent of the 2014 General Fund budget, (2) the Other Funds cash reserve was 129 percent of the 2014 Other Funds budget, and (3) the All Funds cash reserve was 87 percent of the 2014 All Funds budget. H. J. Umbaugh and Associates has advised the Boone County Council that 35 percent is a sufficient General Fund cash reserve (because of the delayed timing of property tax receipts and the ongoing need to pay bills), and that 15 percent is a sufficient cash reserve for most other funds.

When cash reserves are excessive, it is Taxpayer Friendly for government units to lower property taxes by cutting budgets and using cash reserves to pay for needed services. In spite of its excessive cash reserves on December 31, 2014, Lebanon still increased its 2015 budget a Taxpayer UNfriendly 22 percent over its 2014 budget.

City of Lebanon Cash Reserves

(Compiled October 8, 2015)

SOURCES:

A. Budget amounts from Lebanon Clerk-Treasurer spreadsheets during 2014 and 2015 budget workshops.

B. 2014 Lebanon Annual Financial Report from https://gateway.ifionline.org/report_builder/ 

NOTES:

1. 2014 and 2015 budget amounts approved by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

2. 12/31/14 Cash % = Cash Reserves percentage compared to 2014 Budget.

3. 15 vs 14 Incr. = the percent increase of the 2015 Budget over the 2014 Budget.

Fund Description

2014 Budget

12/31/14 Cash (%)

2015 Budget

15 vs 14 Incr.

Mayor 001 TOTAL

$132,962

$196,687

48%

Clerk-Treasurer 002 TOTAL

$148,423

$189,710

28%

Council & Board of Works 003 TOTAL

$51,758

$53,833

4%

City Hall 018 TOTAL

$1,351,210

$1,966,805

46%

Planning & Zoning 022 TOTAL

$327,312

$306,217

(6%)

COIT Capital 023 TOTAL

$1,730,054

$1,877,626

9%

Historic Preserv. Comm. 031 TOTAL

$32,459

Active Living 032 TOTAL

Police Department 200 TOTAL

$2,563,431

$2,933,994

14%

Fire Department 210 TOTAL

$1,754,540

$2,054,000

17%

TOTAL GENERAL FUND

$8,059,690

$4,789,852 (59%)

$9,611,331

19%

Fire Pension 803001121 TOTAL

$350,000

$420,245 (120%)

$350,000

0%

Police Pension 804001121 TOTAL

$300,000

$248,852 (83%)

$250,000

(16.67%)

Motor Vehicle Highway 201 TOTAL

$907,171

$888,624 (98%)

$985,244

9%

Local Road and Street 202 TOTAL

$134,000

$177,701 (133%)

$199,000

49%

Parks and Recreation 204 TOTAL

$564,720

$576,248 (102%)

$655,884

16%

Park Pool Debt Service 312 TOTAL

$180,277

$20,675 (11%)

$385,751

114%

Cum. Capital Improvement 401 TOTAL

$63,000

$130,464 (207%)

$63,000

0%

Cum. Capital Development 402 TOTAL

$500,000

$548,558 (110%)

$1,366,477

173%

Sanitation 620 TOTAL

$639,684

$507,170 (79%)

$645,301

1%

Storm Water Debt Service 660 TOTAL

$513,449

$252,215 (49%)

$555,340

8%

Rainy Day / COIT Savings 270 TOTAL

$500,000

$1,585,889 (317%)

$500,000

0%

Food & Beverage 471 TOTAL

$500,000

$1,305,704 (261%)

$500,000

0%

TOTAL OTHER FUNDS

$5,152,301

$6,662,345 (129%)

$6,455,997

25%

GRAND TOTAL ALL FUNDS

$13,211,991

$11,452,197 (87%)

$16,067,328

22%

2014 Budget

12/31/14 Cash (%)

2015 Budget

15 vs 14 Incr.

 

3. City of Lebanon Budgets History

The Grand Total amount of $16,205,500 for the proposed 2016 City of Lebanon budget is a whopping 36 percent more than the $11,877,786 Grand Total for the 2013 approved budget even though Lebanon’s population today is just about the same as in 2013. It is past time to initiate at least some small degree of fiscal restraint by cutting $138,172 (or 0.85 percent) from Lebanon’s proposed 2016 budget so the 2016 budget is no more than the $16,067,328 Grand Total amount in the 2015 budget.

City of Lebanon Budgets History

(Compiled October 6, 2015)

SOURCES:

A. Budget amounts from Lebanon Clerk-Treasurer spreadsheets during 2014 and 2015 budget workshops.

B. Population data from http://www.finplaneducation.net/population_data.htm 

NOTES:

1. 2013, 2014, 2015 budget amounts approved by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

2. 2016 budget amounts proposed as of September 28, 2015.

Fund Description

2013

2014

2015

2016

16 vs 13 Incr.

Mayor 001 TOTAL

$116,952

$132,962

$196,687

$188,087

60.82%

Clerk-Treasurer 002 TOTAL

$139,791

$148,423

$189,710

$232,345

66.21%

Council & Board of Works 003 TOTAL

$43,793

$51,758

$53,833

$83,833

91.43%

City Hall 018 TOTAL

$1,298,670

$1,351,210

$1,966,805

$1,891,805

45.67%

Planning & Zoning 022 TOTAL

$236,311

$327,312

$306,217

$312,212

32.12%

COIT Capital 023 TOTAL

$1,689,196

$1,730,054

$1,877,626

$1,883,393

11.50%

Historic Preserv. Comm. 031 TOTAL

$32,459

$32,459

Active Living 032 TOTAL

$150,000

Police Department 200 TOTAL

$2,063,950

$2,563,431

$2,933,994

$2,961,800

43.50%

Fire Department 210 TOTAL

$1,648,681

$1,754,540

$2,054,000

$2,223,546

34.87%

TOTAL GENERAL FUND

$7,237,344

$8,059,690

$9,611,331

$9,959,480

37.61%

PERCENT INCREASE

11.36%

19.25%

3.62%

POPULATION

15,807

15,836

15,865

Fire Pension 803001121 TOTAL

$350,000

$350,000

$350,000

$350,000

0%

Police Pension 804001121 TOTAL

$300,000

$300,000

$250,000

$250,000

(16.67%)

Motor Vehicle Highway 201 TOTAL

$762,134

$907,171

$985,244

$1,049,631

37.72%

Local Road and Street 202 TOTAL

$134,000

$134,000

$199,000

$199,000

48.51%

Parks and Recreation 204 TOTAL

$435,283

$564,720

$655,884

$713,879

64.00%

Park Pool Debt Service 312 TOTAL

$180,277

$385,751

$379,274

Cum. Capital Improvement 401 TOTAL

$63,000

$63,000

$63,000

$63,000

0%

Cum. Capital Development 402 TOTAL

$500,000

$500,000

$1,366,477

$1,005,000

101.00%

Sanitation 620 TOTAL

$632,246

$639,684

$645,301

$674,417

6.67%

Storm Water Debt Service 660 TOTAL

$463,779

$513,449

$555,340

$561,819

21.14%

Rainy Day / COIT Savings 270 TOTAL

$500,000

$500,000

$500,000

$500,000

0%

Food & Beverage 471 TOTAL

$500,000

$500,000

$500,000

$500,000

0%

TOTAL OTHER FUNDS

$4,640,442

$5,152,301

$6,455,997

$6,246,020

34.60%

PERCENT INCREASE (DECREASE)

11.03%

25.30%

(3.25%)

POPULATION

15,807

15,836

15,865

GRAND TOTAL ALL FUNDS

$11,877,786

$13,211,991

$16,067,328

$16,205,500

36.44%

PERCENT INCREASE

11.23%

21.61%

0.86%

POPULATION

15,807

15,836

15,865

2013

2014

2015

2016

16 vs 13 Incr.

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This page was last updated on 09/20/16 .