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NEW BUSINESS – 9A <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> DATE: September 13, 2021 <br />TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers <br />Dave Perrault, City Administrator <br />FROM: Gayle Bauman, Finance Director <br />SUBJECT: Consider Approval of Preliminary Tax Levy Payable in 2022 and Setting Budget <br />Public Hearing Date <br />Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: <br />N/A N/A N/A <br /> <br />Council Should Consider <br />Motions to approve, table or deny the following: <br />• Resolution 2021-049 setting the Preliminary Levy for Taxes Payable in 2022 <br />• Resolution 2021-050 setting the Preliminary Levy for Taxes Payable in 2022 for the Karth <br />Lake Special Taxing District <br />• Resolution 2021-051 adopting Truth In Taxation Public Hearing Date for Proposed Taxes <br />Payable in 2022 <br /> <br />All items need a simple majority for action unless otherwise noted. <br /> <br />Background <br />State law requires that cities certify their proposed property tax levies to the county auditor by <br />September 30th. The proposed tax levy that is given preliminary approval may be lowered but <br />cannot be increased. Therefore, it is important that the proposed tax levy provides adequate <br />revenues to finance the 2022 Budget. The City Council needs to decide the maximum levy that it <br />is willing to approve and then adopt the attached resolution. The final levy will be set in December <br />2021. <br /> <br />A budget workshop was held with the Council on August 16, 2021. Staff was directed to provide <br />proposed maximum levy increase options from 3% to 5%. There will be another budget workshop <br />in either October or November, prior to the final levy and budget adoption meeting in December. <br /> <br />Discussion <br />Wages and Benefits <br />The 2022 preliminary budget is currently being prepared assuming a 3.0% wage adjustment for all <br />staff. There was a survey completed of surrounding communities and most were at 3.0%. It is <br />important for the City to remain competitive in the marketplace. There is also an 8% increase <br />assumed for health, a 3% increase for dental and a 0.0% increase for life insurance premiums. The