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cityofardenhills.org • Jan/Feb 2024 • 3 2 • Arden Hills Notes • Jan/Feb 2024
<br />Service Directory
<br />City Hall
<br />1245 West Highway 96
<br />Arden Hills, MN 55112
<br />cityofardenhills.org
<br />651-792-7800
<br />Office Hours
<br />Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
<br />Sheriff and Fire
<br />911 - Emergency & Non-Emergency
<br />Water and Sewer Problems
<br />(During non-business hours)
<br /> 651-767-0640
<br />Mayor
<br />David Grant • 651-538-0747
<br />dgrant@cityofardenhills.org
<br />City Councilmembers
<br />Brenda Holden • 651-636-2987
<br />bholden@cityofardenhills.org
<br />Emily Rousseau • 651-792-7856
<br />erousseau@cityofardenhills.org
<br />Tena Monson • 612-758-0695
<br />tmonson@cityofardenhills.org
<br />Thomas Fabel • 651-303-3611
<br />tfabel@cityofardenhills.org
<br />City Administrator
<br />Dave Perrault • 651-792-7824
<br />dperrault@cityofardenhills.org
<br />Sr. Communications Coordinator
<br />Luke Cardona • 651-792-7817
<br />lcardona@cityofardenhills.org
<br />City Council Liaison
<br />Thomas Fabel
<br />Resident Resources
<br />cityofardenhills.org/resident-resources
<br />Council meetings are held at City Hall on
<br />the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at
<br />7 p.m. Council meetings, Work Sessions,
<br />and Planning Commission meetings are
<br />televised live on Cable Channel 16. Please
<br />visit cityofardenhills.org for information
<br />about archived meeting playbacks.
<br />Arden Hills Notes is the official newsletter of
<br />the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity
<br />employer.
<br />2 • Arden Hills Notes • Jan/Feb 2024 cityofardenhills.org • Jan/Feb 2024 • 3
<br />City News
<br />Voting Details for March 5 Presidential Primary
<br />The Presidential Nomination Primary will occur on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
<br />Only major parties will participate, and each major party will have a separate
<br />ballot. The party chairs have submitted candidates, and no other races will
<br />appear. A voter must request their party ballot choice, and their choice will
<br />be recorded and provided to the chairs of each major political party. For more
<br />information, visit
<br />sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/how-elections-work/presidential-primary.
<br />There are options to vote early. Absentee voting began on January 19. You
<br />can request a ballot either by visiting the MN Secretary of State’s office at
<br />mnvotes.sos.mn.gov/abrequest/index or by contacting Ramsey County
<br />Elections at 651-266-2171. You can return your ballot by mail or in person at
<br />the Ramsey County Elections office located at 90 Plato Blvd in St. Paul. Direct
<br />ballot voting starts February 16. This is where you vote in person and will
<br />place your ballot directly in the voting machine. During this period, you can
<br />vote at the Shoreview Ramsey County Library or the Roseville Ramsey County
<br />Library. Check ramseycounty.us/residents/elections-voting/voters/vote-
<br />election-day for information about these locations and hours of operation.
<br />Don’t want to vote early? You can vote on election day, Tuesday, March 5, but
<br />you must vote at your polling place.
<br />Visit cityofardenhills.org/134/Elections-and-Voting for this and other
<br />city-related election information.
<br />Spring/Summer Recreation Activity Guide
<br />It’s already time to start thinking about those warm, weathered days ahead!
<br />The 2024 Spring/Summer Recreation Activity Guide will be available in
<br />mid-February. There will be plenty of programs to choose from, like soccer,
<br />t-ball, playground programs, yoga, and more! Visit
<br />cityofardenhills.org/203/Recreation-Programs to learn more.
<br />Arden Hills Planning Commission
<br />The City’s Planning Commission plays a crucial role in shaping the future of
<br />our community. Comprised of dedicated volunteers appointed by the City
<br />Council, the Planning Commission is an advisory body that reviews proposed
<br />developments, zoning changes, and long-term planning initiatives such as the
<br />City’s Comprehensive Plan. Recent reviews include variances for residential
<br />additions, zoning code amendments, and commercial redevelopment
<br />proposals. Residents are encouraged to sign up for email notifications of
<br />upcoming agendas as the City embarks on an anticipated 18 to 24-month
<br />process to review and update the planning and land use regulations.
<br />Commission members include Jonathan Wicklund,
<br />Arlene Mitchell, Joshua Collins, Shelley Blilie, Brad
<br />Bjorklund, Steven Jones, Steve Erler, and the new
<br />Chair of the Commission, Kurtis Weber. Kurtis
<br />transitioned into his role as Chair in January
<br />after three years of service to the Commission.
<br />When asked about his involvement in the Planning
<br />Commission, he said, “Joining the Planning
<br />Commission was my way of diving into the heart of
<br />our community and getting involved in the best way I
<br />know how to help my neighbors!”
<br />There is one open vacancy on the Planning Commission. If you are interested
<br />in learning more, visit cityofardenhills.org/127/Planning-Commission.
<br />City Adopts Budget and Approves Tax Levy
<br />The annual Truth in Taxation hearing was held on December 11 at Arden Hills City Hall. City staff presented
<br />information regarding the 2024 budget and tax levy. The City Council adopted a 2024 property tax levy of $5,310,950.
<br />This sets the City’s property tax levy increase for 2024 at 12.55 percent, which is the same as the preliminary levy rate
<br />set in September 2023. The impact of a 12.55 percent levy increase translates to a $99.86 increase in annual city taxes
<br />paid by resident owners of median-valued homes. Arden Hills continues to have one of the lowest tax rates in Ramsey
<br />County. In Arden Hills, the levy is split between the General Fund ($4,650,950), the Equipment/Building Replacement
<br />Fund ($270,000), the Economic Development Authority Fund ($100,000), and Capital Funds ($290,000). The Council
<br />adopted a 2024 City budget of $19,826,890, which includes the General Fund, Capital Funds, and Utilities.
<br />What your Arden Hills Tax Dollar Buys You
<br />A $469,000 home (the average in Arden Hills) generates $1,148 in annual City property taxes, or $95.67 per month for
<br />2024.
<br />2024 General Fund Budget
<br />Revenues
<br />• General Fund revenues in the 2024 budget are set at $5,939,200.
<br />• The property tax levy accounts for approximately 78 percent of
<br />the General Fund revenues and will be increased by 13.7 percent
<br />($559,810) over the previous year.
<br />Expenditures
<br />• General Fund expenditures for 2024 total $6,121,270, with Public
<br />Safety accounting for almost half of overall General Fund
<br />expenditures
<br />• Public Safety costs are set to increase by 9.1 percent ($131,960) for the Ramsey County Sheriff contract, 11.0
<br />percent or $82,750 for the Lake Johanna Fire Department, and 5.4 percent ($20,350) for Protective Inspection
<br />costs.
<br />• Personnel costs are increasing by 8.5 percent ($158,060) due to cost of living adjustments, step increases and
<br />health insurance premium increases.
<br />The property tax levy does not cover the City’s overall budget and will use existing fund balance reserves to cover the
<br />budget deficit. The approved budget and tax levy information can be viewed in detail in the December 11 City Council
<br />agenda at cityofardenhills.org.
<br />The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the 2024 budget information concerning the City of Arden Hills
<br />for interested citizens. This Budget Summary is published in the format prescribed by Minnesota Statutes Section
<br />471.6965.
<br />This report is not the complete City budget. Once the completed City budget is available, it can be viewed at Arden
<br />Hills City Hall, located at 1245 West Highway 96, or online at cityofardenhills.org/176/Budget-Financial-Planning. The
<br />City Council approved this budget on December 11, 2023.
<br />We’re proud to announce that the City of Arden Hills’ 2022 Financial
<br />Report has once again received GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement
<br />for Excellence in Financial Reporting!
<br />The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in
<br />governmental accounting and financial reporting, and receiving it is a
<br />significant accomplishment by a government and its finance depart-
<br />ment. Special thanks go out to former Finance Director Gayle Bau-
<br />man, Pang Silseth, Amy LaMere, and new Finance Director Joua Yang.
<br />City Financial Report Receives Certificate of Achievement
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