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Mounds View City Council <br />Regular Meeting <br />December 43, 2024 <br />Page 3 <br />1 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS <br />2 A. Public Hearing — 2022 Tax Levy and Budgets for All Funds. <br />3 1. Resolution 9513, Adopting the 2022 Tax Levy. <br />4 2. Resolution 9514, Approving the 2022 EDA Tax Levy. <br />5 3. Resolution 9515, Adopting 2022 Municipal Budget. <br />6 <br />7 Finance Director Beer discussed the 2022 Tax Levy and budgets for all funds. He requested the <br />8 Council adopt three Resolutions which would adopt the 2022 Tax Levy, approve the 2022 EDA <br />9 Tax Levy and adopt the 2022 municipal budget. He reported the preliminary levy was set in <br />10 September of 5% for the General Fund, .94% for the police referendum and .04% for debt <br />1 1 service. He indicated adjustments have been made to reduce the levy by .65% making the final <br />12 levy 5.33%. <br />13 <br />14 Mayor Mueller opened the public hearing at 6:46 p.m. <br />15 <br />16 Brian Amundsen, 3048 Woodale Drive, spoke to the Council regarding the City's tax limit, <br />17 noting this was to be limited to 5%. He noted the Charter language states that the ad valorem tax <br />18 limit is 5% with some exceptions for fees and indebtedness. He indicated the EDA levy or other <br />19 special levies should be included in the 5%. He expressed frustration that the Council was not <br />20 adhering to the language and spirit of the Charter. <br />21 <br />22 Bob King, 7408 Silver Lake Road, expressed concern with what the Council considers a tax. He <br />23 noted the residents voted for street improvements, which should not be considered a tax. In <br />24 addition, the residents voted for the three police officers, which should not be considered a tax. <br />25 He indicated a tax was expenditures the City made a decision on. He did not believe the <br />26 referendum for the three police officers should be considered an extra tax. <br />27 <br />28 Hearing no further public input, Mayor Mueller closed the public hearing at 6:49 p.m. <br />29 <br />30 Council Member Hull asked if the City Council was in violation of the City Charter with the <br />31 proposed tax levy. City Attorney Riggs reported the City Council was not in violation. <br />32 <br />33 Council Member Meehlhause noted the debt service for the new Public Works Facility and Fire <br />34 Station No. 3 were not considered to be part of the levy either. City Attorney Riggs indicated <br />35 this was the case. <br />36 <br />37 Council Member Meehlhause explained the Street Project was also considered debt service and <br />38 were not part of the levy. City Attorney Riggs stated this was the case. <br />39 <br />40 Finance Director Beer commented any resident approved levies were exempt from the Charter <br />41 language. <br />42 <br />43 Council Member Meehlhause questioned what was driving the employee expense increase. <br />44 Finance Director Beer stated this was due to a 3% cost of living adjustment, along with step <br />45 increases for employees. <br />