Agenda Packets - 2025/12/09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council December 1, 2025 Truth in Taxation Meeting Page 3 these were all items the community had questions about. 1 2 Mayor Lindstrom commented on how the City was looking into municipal cannabis and noted this 3 could be a significant revenue source that could assist with easing some of the tax burden on 4 residents in the future. He discussed how proceeds from conduit bond financing projects assisted 5 with covering the expense of the fitness court and Tribute Park. He reported the City completed 6 the fitness court through the assistance of grant funding as well. 7 8 Mr. Miller inquired if the City had considered installing a concession stand at the splash pad in 9 order to assist with offsetting maintenance costs. 10 11 Mayor Lindstrom stated he liked this idea and noted the splash pad was one of the most utilized 12 amenities in the community. He commented on how the new parking lot improved safety for 13 visitors to the splash pad. He further discussed the ways the City pursues cost sharing with other 14 communities. 15 16 Mr. Miller explained his property taxes were slated to increase by over 15% for the coming year, 17 which did not include the school levy. He stated he would like to remain in the community, but 18 this increase was extremely high. He indicated all bills were on the rise and noted residents were 19 feeling the pinch. 20 21 Council Member Meehlhause commented on how the City receives $1 million in Local 22 Government Aid each year. He noted the State was projecting to have a budget deficit in 2027 23 which meant LGA would possibly be cut. He indicated the 9% preliminary levy includes a 24 reduction on LGA reliance. 25 26 Council Member Smith asked when the City would be notified about LGA. Finance Director 27 Bauman commented the City received notice several months ago. 28 29 Mayor Lindstrom reported the City would receive LGA in 2026 but may not receive LGA in 2027. 30 31 Brian Amundsen, 3048 Woodale Drive, appreciated the fact the Councilmembers were taxpayers. 32 However, he encouraged the Council to change their mindset and to further consider what services 33 were necessary to provide for Mounds View residents. He questioned if the Council was truly 34 considering the impact of the special projects that had been completed in the past year, especially 35 the impact this was having on seniors. He believed Mounds View residents were receiving great 36 value in this City but noted all costs were on the rise and for seniors living on social security, their 37 income was limited. He discussed how the Council has continually asked for increases in the levy 38 amount noting the limit used to be 5%, then 6.5% and now it was up to 9%. He stated he was 39 disappointed in the manner in which money was spent by the City Council in 2025. He urged the 40 Council to work this number back down to 6.5%. 41 42 Mohammad Sabur, 7285 Hidden Hollow Court, commented he would like to better understand the 43 City’s financial position and the amount of cash the City has on hand. He reported revenues and 44 expenditures were not supposed to increase by more than 7.5% in 2026 and questioned why the 45 Council was proposing a 9% levy increase. 46