OTTUMWA — It’s January and throughout the land government budgets are marching toward certification.

The budget is one of two topics in the City Council’s work session, which will be part of Monday’s special meeting.

In his Jan. 15 memo to the mayor and council, City Administrator Joe Helfenberger said the proposed 2009/2010 budget “would increase the city’s portion of the property tax rate by 6.47 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation before the rollback.”

“After you factor in the state-ordered residential rollback, the average residential property taxpayer will see a 1.4 percent increase in the city portion of their property tax bill,” Helfenberger said.

For example, a residential property taxpayer with a home valued at $100,000 would expect to pay $9.06 more in 2009 than in 2008.

The proposed budget emphasizes targeting city resources toward street, sewer and bridge improvements, according to the city administrator.

“The budget also targets cutting costs through improved efficiencies such as additional automation,” he said. “At the same time, the city is seeking opportunities for tax base expansion, such as potential annexation of the airport/beltway area.”

Several “catastrophic health insurance claims” triggered an unbudgeted 10 percent increase in health insurance rates on July 1, 2008, and will require another 10 percent increase in those rates on July 1, 2009, to keep the fund solvent, Helfenberger noted.

The council will also discuss some Cedar Creek Golf Course issues.

During the meeting’s action portion, council members most likely will vote on:

• Appointing Bankers Trust Co., N.A., of Des Moines, to serve as paying agent, note registrar and transfer agent; and, approving other agreements related to $4.8 million in general obligation capital loan notes.

• Approving the tax exemption certificate and authorizing Heffernan to sign on behalf of the city for $4.8 million in general obligation capital loan notes and levying a tax to pay the notes.

• Authorizing the mayor to submit a Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Stabilization Program application.

• Setting a 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3 public hearing concerning the sale of city-owned property at 105 S. Vine St.

Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.