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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for December 2, 2013 <br />Page 5 of 7 <br />Ron provided details on the proposed 2014 tax levy. After subtracting fiscal disparities the <br />amount to be paid by local taxpayers will increase by 4.64%; however, increasing property <br />values will reduce the urban tax rate by .38%. He further explained that the city accounts for <br />only 36% of the total tax bill. Ron explained the concept of contingency budgeting for <br />expenditures and reviewed the general fund budget categorized by function. He also explained <br />that beginning January 1, 2014, the city would become exempt from state sales tax and that the <br />realized savings will be applied to unanticipated increases in street lighting. <br />Ron concluded by saying the budget is balanced, and although the tax on a median valued <br />homestead will increase by $13.65, twenty five percent of residential homes will receive a <br />reduction in City tax. <br />Mayor Weidt opened the public hearing. There were no comments, and the Mayor closed the <br />public hearing. <br />The Council thanked the Finance Department. <br />Haas made motion, Klein seconded, to approve RESOLUTION 2013 — 36 RESOLUTION <br />APPROVING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE 2014 FISCAL YEAR. <br />Ayes: Bronk, Klein, Haas, Petryk, Weidt <br />Abstain: Bronk abstained from all portions of the budget relating to the Fire Department <br />expenditures. <br />Motion carried. <br />Haas made motion, Klein seconded to approve RESOLUTION 2013 — 37 RESOLUTION <br />APPROVING FINAL TAX LEVY PAYABLE IN 2014. <br />All Ayes. Klein, Haas, Petryk, Bronk, Weidt <br />Motion carried. <br />Water Conservation Update <br />At its September 3, 2013 meeting, the Council approved the goal statements for the conservation <br />of water resources. At its October 21, 2013 meeting, Council discussed the draft plan for <br />implementation of these goals. Discussed in the plan was a water conservation rebate program <br />that would include rebates for implementing water conservation improvements. This would be <br />similar to the programs in Eden Prairie and Victoria, MN. Council had asked for information <br />regarding the water savings of these programs. <br />Planning Intern Eric Maass gathered numbers from those cities and presented them to the <br />Council. Eden Prairie residents were offered rebates on irrigation controllers, toilets, washers, <br />dishwashers, showerheads and faucets. Victoria residents received rebates only on toilets, <br />washers, and dishwashers. Using the Environmental Protection Agency's water discharge <br />numbers to determine gallons saved and the number of rebates provided, Eric determined that <br />Eden Prairie saved 4,342,359 gallons per year with a cost of $3.44 per 1,000 gallons. Victoria <br />saved 476,237 gallons per year with an estimated cost of $1.80 per 1,000 gallons. Eric explained <br />