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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes <br />August 26, 2025 <br />Page 5 <br />1 Decrease due to accounting for Sustainability costs in its own department within <br />2 Administration rather than in Miscellaneous costs, which makes up $14,000 of this <br />3 decrease. <br />4 <br />5 Ms. Maloney reviewed the General Fund and Levy Options chart. <br />6 <br />7 The Fire Department Funding Request includes: <br />8 <br />9 2025 – 2027. <br />10 Hire three firefighters/paramedics. <br />11 Reduce paid on-call staff accordingly. <br />12 No annual paid on-call recruitment. <br />13 <br />14 2025 Costs. <br />15 3 Firefighters/EMT - $341,370. <br />16 3 Firefighters/Paramedics - $364,908. <br />17 <br />18 Ms. Maloney presented the Funding Options: <br />19 1 – Base levy increase without funding new Firefighter positions – 5.44% Levy Increase. <br />20 2 - Absorb the cost of 3 additional Firefighter/Paramedics (1 for each shift) – 9.18% Levy <br />21 Increase. <br />22 3 – Use closed TIF District funds returned to Ramsey County for redistribution to <br />23 jurisdictions. St. Anthony’s portion is estimated to be $990,000. <br />24 Use 2/3 of available funds over 3 years to reduce levy by $217,800 for each of 3 <br />25 years – this option retains 1/3 of available funds for new amenity requests - <br />26 $6.88%. <br />27 Use all available funds over 4 years to reduce levy by $247,500 for each of 4 <br />28 years – this option eliminates use for new park amenities requests – 6.57%. <br />29 Retain all available funds in the Capital Funds to reduce or eliminate levy <br />30 increases for as many years as possible – this option likely eliminates use for new <br />31 park amenities requests – TBD. <br />32 <br />33 The preliminary levy increases for cities around the Metropolitan area are anticipated to be in the <br />34 range of 6 – 13.4% with an average increase of 8.8%. <br />35 <br />36 Ms. Maloney reviewed Additional Considerations – Future Budget Topics: <br />37 After Preliminary Levy adoption, focus shifts to Capital levies for CIP, Buildings, and <br />38 Parks Funds. <br />39 Continuing cost increases for equipment and major facility maintenance and upgrades. <br />40 Long-Term Facility needs to plan for: <br />o41 Feasibility of a Public Safety Facility or address space needs for both Fire and <br />42 Police Departments. <br />o43 Long-Term Community Center vision and plan. <br />44 New Parks Amenities requests and extraordinary costs: <br />o45 Pickleball courts to replace old tennis court - $350,000. <br />o46 Dog Park at a location to be determined - $200,000. <br />9