Agenda Packets - 2024/12/09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council December 2, 2024 Truth in Taxation Meeting Page 2 1 approved referendums, changes in federal and state mandates, changes in aid, or other legislative 2 changes. She discussed how property values in Mounds View had risen 2.05% in 2024 and 3 commented on how property taxes are calculated based on a property's value. She reported this 4 meeting would allow the public a time to voice concerns and explained the final budget would be 5 approved by the Council at their Monday, December 9, 2024 meeting. 6 7 Finance Director Bauman explained the proposed property tax levy would increase by 8.53%. She 8 reported the General Fund is the City's operating fund and accounts for most city-wide activities. 9 She provided the Council with a summary on General Fund revenue and expenditure changes. She 10 described how property taxes were broken down between the City, county and school district, as 11 well as defining how the City utilized its tax dollars. She compared the City's proposed levy to the 12 levy of comparable communities. Staff discussed how the proposed levy would impact the median 13 value home owner and asked for comments or questions from the City Council. 14 15 Mayor Lindstrom thanked staff for the detailed presentation. He opened the Truth in Taxation 16 Public Hearing at 6:18 p.m. 17 18 Brian Amundsen, 3048 Woodale Drive, thanked Mayor Lindstrom and staff for meeting with him 19 and talking through his questions on the different levies. He thanked the Council for continuing to 20 work on the levy in order to reduce it below the 9% cap. He indicated the Charter Commission set 21 caps in order to ensure the government does not spend at a rate higher than family incomes are 22 increasing. He stated he was concerned with the fact the police department was eliminating one 23 police officer. He understood the debt service would be going up in 2025, even though 24 expenditures would be going down. He encouraged the Council to continue to work with the 25 Charter Commission in the coming year. 26 27 Finance Director Bauman commented on the debt schedule noting it was set and the City had to 28 levy for a certain amount in order to pay the principle and interest in 2025. 29 30 Mayor Lindstrom explained there has been consistent momentum to balance the budget for 2025. 31 He reported the City has been operating with 17 officers for several years and the department is 32 authorized to have 21. He stated the City Council decided to remove one position from the budget 33 for 2025,knowing the department would be utilizing new technology,while also working to recruit 34 quality candidates. He was hopeful that this position could be added back into the budget for 2026 35 if recommended by the police chief. He agreed the City Council should continue to work with the 36 Charter Commission in the coming year. 37 38 City Administrator Zikmund reported he had scheduled three additional work session meetings 39 next year, one with the Charter Commission in order to discuss the levy, voter approved 40 referendums, streets, and Council vacancy process. 41 42 Mayor Lindstrom closed the Truth in Taxation Public Hearing at 6:26 p.m. 43 44 6. Next Council Work Session: Monday,December 2, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. 45 Next Council Meeting: Monday,December 9, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.