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<br /> <br /> Staff Report <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />From: Bryce Shearen, City Administrator <br /> Sam Magureanu, Finance Director <br /> <br />Date: December 3, 2025, City Council Meeting <br /> <br />Re: 2026 Final Proposed Budget and Levy <br /> <br />Actions To Be Considered: <br /> <br />Motion to approve, table, or deny the following: <br /> <br />1. Motion to adopt the 2026 Tax Levy. <br /> <br />2. Motion to adopt the 2026 Budget. <br /> <br />3. Motion to approve the 2026 salary wage schedule. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />At the September 10 City Council meeting, the Council adopted a preliminary tax levy increase <br />of 11.56%. The final levy may not be higher than this initial amount, but it could be lower. <br />Ramsey County used the 11.56% increase to prepare the notices of estimated property taxes <br />mailed to property owners in November. These notices included a public Truth in Taxation <br />(TNT) hearing on the 2026 budget scheduled for tonight’s council meeting. <br /> <br />This presentation mainly focuses on the community impact of the budget rather than providing the <br />details. Detailed reviews of the preliminary budget were covered at the August 20 and September <br />10 City Council workshops and meetings. <br /> <br />City staff is currently proposing a final 2026 levy increase of 10.95% or $539,617. This would <br />represent a decrease of 0.61% or $30,321 from the adopted preliminary levy of 11.56% on <br />September 10. A summary of the key factors contributing to this decrease is listed on the following <br />page.