Budget Information

Operating a city the size of Worthington is a big business that demands substantial resources to provide services for our citizens. It is our goal to provide the best police, fire, parks, street, utility, golf, auditorium, and campground services possible within a budget that takes into account the community's willingness and ability to pay for these services. We are using people's hard earned money to provide services for the common good. We bear in mind as we make these budgets and administer them from year to year.

The budget process begins in April of each year with City Council and Staff setting future goals. During the months of June and July, departments are asked to project actual revenue and expenditures for the current year and propose revenues and expenditures for the upcoming year.  Council and staff conduct work sessions to finalize budget estimates.  The Finance Department then uses these estimates to prepare a balanced budget document which reflects the expected level of activity for the next fiscal year. A public hearing is held, and the City Council adopts the budget in December. The new budget year begins on January 1st.

The 2024 budget summary for the City of Worthington depicts the beginning fund balance, a summary of revenues and expenditures, and a projected fund balance for each of the City's budgeted funds. The revenues and expenditures encompass all activity other than use of or increase in reserves. For all governmental funds (general, special revenue, debt service and capital projects), the City uses reserves to the extent expenditures exceed revenues.

The City of Worthington's 2024 detail break-out of revenues, expenditures, beginning fund balances and projected ending fund balances for the current budget year. This schedule shows all revenues and expenditures for budgeted funds for the City other than uses and increases to reserves.

The 2024 Fund Summary by Fund Type for the City of Worthington depicts a summary of revenues and other sources, expenditures and other uses and overall change in Fund Balance by fund type.  Summaries are provided for the following fund types:  General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Debt Service Funds, Capital Project Funds, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds and Expendable Trust Funds.

The 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a five-year plan for capital needs of the City.  It includes both the sources and the uses of money to fund the capital projects. A capital project is defined as an expenditure which results in the acquisition or replacement of a fixed asset costing $5,000 or more. This program is updated annually along with the operating fund budgets and is included in the Council Resolution for the Approval of the Fund Budgets for the City Worthington.

The City of Worthington has received the Government Finance Officers Association's (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget annually since 1995. This award reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of government budgeting.  In order to receive the budget award the City had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The complete budget document, including the CIP is available for review at City Hall, 303 Ninth Street, Worthington, MN  56187.