Agenda Packets - 2023/12/11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council December 4, 2023 Truth in Taxation Meeting Page 2 1 2 Valerie Amundsen, 3048 Woodale Drive,requested comment from staff regarding last year's levy 3 compared to the proposed levy. She asked what the levy increase was last year. Finance Director 4 Bauman provided Ms. Amundsen with further information on the General Fund budget for 2023 5 and 2024. She noted that the preliminary maximum levy that was approved in September was 6 7.54%. 7 8 Ms. Amundsen reminded the Council that 40% of Mounds View's population was seniors. She 9 urged the Council to keep this in mind when proposing tax increases,noting these yearly increases 10 were impacting seniors on a fixed budget. While she fully supported the City having a top of the 11 line police department, she questioned if everything the City purchased had to be top of the line. 12 13 Brian Amundsen, 3048 Woodale Drive, questioned if the proposed 6.5% levy increase included 14 all of the other services. Finance Director Bauman reported this was the case. 15 16 Council Member Meehlhause questioned how much longer the fire bonds would be in place. City 17 Administrator Zikmund reported these bonds would be in place until 2026. 18 19 Judy Yellowstrand,2071 Pinewood Drive,stated she did not have access to the budget presentation 20 on her computer. She asked if the levy would increase 8.5% or 6.5%. Finance Director Bauman 21 clarified the overall levy increase is proposed to be 6.5% or less. Further discussion ensued 22 regarding how the proposed levy had decreased from the preliminary levy that was approved in 23 September. 24 25 Ms. Yellowstrand questioned what the police officer levy was in 2023. Finance Director Bauman 26 explained this levy totaled $385,000. 27 28 Ms. Yellowstrand requested further information regarding the EDA levy. City Administrator 29 Zikmund reported the EDA levy was separate and totaled $100,000 each year. 30 31 Carol Mueller, 8343 Groveland Road, expressed concern with how the average household in 32 Mounds View would now be paying $100 per month or more in property taxes for the City. She 33 understood the City could not control the County or school district increases and commented on 34 how the proposed jump would adversely impact those living on a fixed income. She urged the 35 Council to take another look at the budget and tax levy in order to make cuts or reductions. She 36 commented on the EDA levy noting these funds were set aside to assist with economic 37 improvements. She understood the EDA levy used to be $150,000 and this amount has been 38 reduced to $100,000. She encouraged the Council to consider further lowering the EDA levy to 39 $50,000 given the current market conditions. 40 41 Chris Edmond, 2234 Bronson Drive, commented on the $97 per month that would be paid by 42 homeowners to the City. Finance Director Bauman stated this was an average or estimate for a 43 median value homeowner. 44 45 6. Next Council Work Session: Monday, December 4, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. 46 Next Council Meeting: Monday,December 11, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.