Agenda Packets - 2025/12/09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council December 1, 2025 Truth in Taxation Meeting Page 2 She provided the Council with a summary on General Fund revenue and expenditure changes for 1 2026. She described how property taxes were broken down between the City, county and school 2 district, as well as defining how the City utilized its tax dollars. She compared the City’s proposed 3 levy to the levy of comparable communities. She reviewed the resources that were available to 4 residents to assist with property tax relief. Staff discussed how the proposed levy would impact 5 the median value homeowner and asked for comments or questions from the City Council. 6 7 Mayor Lindstrom thanked staff for the detailed presentation on the budget and tax levy. He opened 8 the Truth in Taxation Public Hearing at 6:20 p.m. 9 10 Greg Gunn, 5090 Irondale Road, asked if the assistance for property taxes that was available for 11 seniors was just for City property taxes. Finance Director Bauman reported this was a program 12 offered by the State of Minnesota Department of Revenue. 13 14 Mr. Gunn questioned how he could contest the value of his home. Finance Director Bauman 15 explained this would be done through the County in March or April. 16 17 Further discussion ensued regarding the City’s road improvement projects. 18 19 Mr. Gunn stated he was disappointed with how Irondale Road had deteriorated in the past two 20 years. Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson explained he was disappointed as well 21 and noted the City had paid to address the concern. 22 23 Jake Miller, 7927 Eastwood Road, expressed concern with the fact the City was coming in with a 24 levy that was at 9% this year. He stated it would be hard for residents to support this given how 25 the City came in at 6% last year. He discussed the budgeting process that he follows at work and 26 urged the City to reconsider its process in order to encourage cuts and to limit the impact on 27 residents going forward. 28 29 Mayor Lindstrom thanked Mr. Miller for attending. He stated the levy increase last year was 8.5%. 30 He provided further information on the process the Council follows for the budget and tax levy. 31 He was of the opinion that the tax levy for 2026 would come in lower than 9%. He discussed how 32 all cities were dealing with increases at this time and noted this was not unique to just Mounds 33 View. He stated the vast majority of the City’s budget comes down to people and the Council has 34 to make important decisions about people and services. He noted the police department was short 35 staffed at this time and the administrative department had only six staff members. He indicated the 36 Council works to be very thoughtful in the staff members that are brought on with the City. 37 38 Mr. Miller thanked the Council for working to try and save residents money through organized 39 trash collection. He understood not all residents in the community supported this action. 40 41 Mayor Lindstrom reported that the Council would continue to work to provide residents with price 42 transparency which hopefully helps save residents money in the long run. 43 44 Mr. Miller discussed how the City had spent funding on the mermaid and a new parking lot for the 45 splash pad. He reported the new fitness court was also a new expense for the City. He indicated 46