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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />AUGUST 23, 2023 <br />2024 PRELIMINARY BUDGET AND LEVY UPDATE <br />The City Administrator commented that the last workshop was focused on the budget and the <br />preliminary levy was recommended at 7.06 percent as a bare bones increase. He stated that when this <br />comes back to the Council there is a potential to increase the budget by an additional $100,000 which <br />would result in a levy increase of 9.90 percent. He compared the previously adopted budget and levy <br />for 2023 to that proposed for 2024. He reviewed the primary impacts to the budget including police <br />services and personnel services. He stated that are options as to how the additional $100,000 proposed <br />to be included in the budget could assist if used towards a community building, the General Capital <br />Fund, or the Capital Infrastructure Fund. <br />T. Miller commented that it would be helpful for residents to see how this increase would impact <br />residents, noting that the Council saw those numbers and it was minimal and palatable. The City <br />Administrator noted that estimate was included in the staff report. He stated that with the additional <br />$1009000 the average market value property, the increase would be about $4.30. <br />T. Miller commented that this scenario appeals to her because the City will be able to get more done <br />without much of an impact to taxpayers, as it would be less than $5 per year on average. The City <br />Administrator noted that Little Canada was fourth lowest for tax rates payable in 2023. He noted that <br />the continued increases to the tax base assist in keeping the impact to residents low. <br />T. Miller commented that she would perhaps support a larger increase as this seems to be a good time <br />to do that. D. Miller agreed. <br />Mayor Fischer agreed, noting that he would like to better understand what the next investment might <br />be. He noted that staff proposed three different uses for the funds which make sense. He stated that he <br />would like to see the next step up, acknowledging that the preliminary levy is the highest that could be <br />set and that could be decreased if desired before final adoption. <br />The Council consensus was for staff to present two additional options to consider. <br />Mayor Fischer recognized the reallocation between the cities for police services, with Falcon Heights <br />exiting the agreement, but noted that two officers are also being added to increase patrol services. T. <br />Miller commented that while she does support staffing, she does see some extraneous costs that <br />continue to be added that seem problematic. <br />D. Miller asked for more information on the mental health services provided for the officers or to assist <br />the officers and asked if that is funded through the contract. The City Administrator explained that the <br />cities contract for services and the County has chosen to implement the crisis team county -wide as part <br />of its services. <br />Mayor Fischer provided input on a ride along experience he participated in where he was able to see <br />the benefit of the crisis team being involved. <br />3 <br />