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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 10 year. He noted the City has been pretty conservative and that the budget is a plan, it doesn't mean that everything is necessarily going to happen. Councilmember Monson thanked the Mayor and Councilmember Holden for answering her questions. She stated she heard from residents during the election campaign that they want more for the taxes they pay, or were willing to pay more to get more, such as more park amenities, trails and playgrounds. She believed she was elected because she has a vision for what she wants to see. She wanted to see the City moving to meet the needs of the residents that live in this community. She supported the City working to complete a climate action plan or to become more sustainable. She struggled with how the City continually has a pattern of not meeting the budget. She hoped the Council could further discussion what its strategic goals and visions were for the City and how it should be spending its funds on behalf of the community. Councilmember Holden commented in past budgets the Council has added items (such as I&I) when grants are received. She explained the City put money into projects for trails that were not in the budget. She stated she worried about how the residents living in affordable housing in Arden Hills would be impacted by a 14.7% levy increase. She worried that people were struggling as it is. She commented further on how the County would be having tax increases as well that would impact all Arden Hills residents. She stated she could support the Council continuing conversations about the City's vision, but she urged the Council to consider how the elderly and those less fortunate would be impacted by the levy increase. Councilmember Fabel said it is hard to find people who are willing to pay more taxes. However, he said it important to remember that Arden Hills has the lowest tax rate in Ramsey by a significant amount. He noted that whatever additional tax burden the City imposes upon people, Arden Hills is still the lowest in all of Ramsey County. Councilmember Fabel stated he thinks he heard Councilmember Holden suggest that the reason there are budget surpluses is because staff is asking for more money than they think they really need. He said he has not seen that but feels staff is very careful and responsible with budgeting. He noted to vote for a maximum levy at the amount that has been budgeted shows a vote of confidence in staff and thanks them for the role that they do. Councilmember Holden said she does not believe she said that. She commented that she was insulted and said she did not say staff deliberately does anything. She said she made the point that she thinks staff does a good job watching the budget and what they spend. She felt belittled and said she does not accept Councilmember's comment. Mayor Grant commented on how the estimate for the budget surplus was around $100,000 to $200,000 from an overall budget of $5 million. He stated Arden Hills did have the lowest tax rate in Ramsey County. He explained he was not in charge of other cities in Ramsey County, he was only in charge of Arden Hills and how this City spent its tax dollars. Councilmember Rousseau stated the 12.55% levy increase would cost taxpayers $3.40 for homes valued between $180,000 and $190,000 or $8.33 for homes valued between $443,000 and $469,000. She recommended the levy be set at 12.55% and that the Council work to lower this amount by December.