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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 10, 2024 Page 5 1 • At the October 22, 2024, City Council meeting, Staff will present the 2025 long-term 2 capital budgets as revised. The requested City Council action will be the approval of 3 2025 capital levies and long-term plans. 4 • The final presentation of the 2025 Budget and Property Tax Levy (Truth in Taxation) 5 hearing is scheduled for the December 10, 2024 Council Meeting. At that meeting, Staff 6 will present a recap of the final 2025 Budget and the 2025 Property Tax Levy's impact on 7 the property tax bill. 8 9 The City Council is asked to pass the resolution this evening certifying the preliminary levy to 10 Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. 11 12 Mayor Webster opened the public hearing at 7:25 p.m. 13 14 No one appeared to address the City Council during the public hearing. 15 16 Councilmember Randle noted this was a difficult budget to prepare. He asked about budgeted 17 cost for communications, memberships and training, and community inclusion and sustainability 18 initiatives. Ms. Maloney stated the training costs were increased due to a number of new staff. 19 She will research and report back to Council. There was no increase in community inclusion and 20 sustainability. Mr. Yunker stated those numbers have been in the budget for a number of years 21 and include utilizing outside trainers, consultants, etc. 22 23 Councilmember Elnagdy referred to page 10 attorney contingencies. Ms. Maloney stated there 24 were contingencies budgeted for legal services. In looking at recent years it was safe to decrease 25 that amount due to actual legal services used. The County will not be billing St. Anthony for the 26 assessment services. 27 28 Councilmember Jenson stated this is the fourth time we have looked at the budget. It has 29 increased since the last glance. Is there anything else that needs to be added that hasn't been 30 addressed. Ms. Maloney stated Staff is requesting a not to exceed approval and if other expenses 31 are added adjustments will need to be made. The capital planning part is not complete and will 32 be discussed in meetings in October. A fund balance is kept for the capital funds. Mr. Yunker 33 stated this year there are contract negotiations with all three unions. We are halfway through the 34 three unions and we are not certain how we will come out. We try to keep a little above average 35 of the peer groups. The capital can be more flexible. Councilmember Jenson thanked Staff for 36 the level of detail provided. 37 38 Councilmember Doolan asked about the 6% and how that would affect homeowners. She asked 39 if there is a budget this year for a police force for full capacity and if we are not at full capacity, 40 does that go into next year's budget. Mr. Yunker stated at the end of this year we will look at the 41 remaining balances and what is the best way to use that. Councilmember Doolan stated she has 42 heard from residents that taxes are high and challenging for residents on fixed incomes. She 43 wants to be mindful of understanding this 6% is higher than we have been talking about. There 44 may be some relief from transfers from 2023 budget. Ms. Maloney stated funds are carried in 45 based on when revenues are received. It is better to use current revenues for current 46 expenditures. We are carrying over public safety dollars $233,000 which is 2% of the levy.