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<br />MEMORANDUM <br />To: Saint Anthony Village City Council <br />From: Deborah Maloney, Finance Director <br />Date: December 09, 2025 <br />Request: 2026 Final Levy & General Fund Budget <br />BACKGROUND <br />Each year, staff and Council review the City’s financial outlook through a mulƟ-step process to ensure <br />that resources remain aligned with community needs and service prioriƟes in determining the City’s final <br />operaƟng and capital budgets and final levy amounts. <br />Some key steps in this process for the 2026 levy included: <br />January 2025: Council discussed key financial issues and budgeƟng goals during the annual goal- <br />seƫng session. These meeƟngs are instrumental for Council to communicate prioriƟes to staff. <br />June 24: Work session held to review the exisƟng infrastructure improvement schedule and the 2026 <br />Debt Levy. At this meeƟng a revised Street Improvement schedule was presented for City Council <br />input and consideraƟon. Staff worked in coordinaƟon with the City’s engineering team to evaluate <br />and adjust the street reconstrucƟon schedule and proposed a pause for street projects in 2026 and <br />2027 and a transiƟon to an every-other-year project cycle beginning in 2028. This modificaƟon is <br />intended to reduce the frequency of debt issuance while sƟll appropriately maintaining the City’s <br />street and uƟlity infrastructure. <br />July 22 & August 12: Work sessions focused on iniƟal esƟmates for the 2026 Budget and Property <br />Tax Levy. At these meeƟngs Staff provided the City Council with an early projecƟon regarding the <br />overall levy and General Fund Budget based on known cost increases and inflaƟonary assumpƟons. <br />Fire Department staffing requests were determined to be a top priority, and various funding opƟons <br />were presented for council consideraƟon at these meeƟngs. Since this Ɵme staff has conƟnued to <br />analyze actual costs along with new informaƟon provided by vendors, contractual service providers, <br />and review of labor union contracts. <br />August 26: Council MeeƟng presentaƟon for further review of budget, staffing needs, and funding <br />opƟons for the 2026 Budget and Property Tax Levy. Staff was directed to proceed with preparaƟon <br />for seƫng Preliminary Levy at $10,570,830, an increase of 9.18% over the 2025 levy, at the <br />September 9, 2025 Council MeeƟng. <br /> <br />57