10-14-24-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 9 Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen commented this might be more of a detailed question for the Finance Director. He noted the City received a Safe Routes to School grant and the City would be applying for the MNDOT Safe Routes to School grant. Councilmember Holden questioned when this trail would be completed. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen indicated this trail would be pushed to 2026. Mayor Grant clarified the trail from the end of Old Snelling to Lydia in Roseville would be covered 100% by MNDOT which meant this trail would have no impact on the City's budget. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen reported this was correct. MOTION: Councilmember Monson moved and Mayor Grant seconded a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-046 - Adopting Truth In Taxation Public Hearing Date for Proposed Taxes Payable in 2025. The motion carried (5-0). Councilmember Rousseau explained she supported the 15.5% levy amount. Councilmember Fabel indicated he supported the 15.5% levy amount as well noting this would eliminate the need for deficit spending. Councilmember Holden stated having gone through the budget, she believed there were some wants included and funding was still needed for trails. She suggested the Parks Master Plan be pushed off another year until the new Park Manager position was filled next year and recommended the preliminary levy amount be set at 14%. Councilmember Monson indicated she supported the preliminary levy being set at 15.5%. She stated she was concerned with under budgeting and how this would impact the 2025 budget. Mayor Grant reported he could support a levy increase of 13%. Councilmember Fabel stated whatever percentage the Council settles on this would be a preliminary number that could be reduced but could not be increased. He recommended the Council move forward with the 15.5% preliminary levy at this time in order to have the maximum amount of flexibility. Mayor Grant commented on how a reduction in commercial property value shifts the burden of property taxes to residential property owners and that the pendulum was swinging strongly to fall on residential. He explained he was unaware of what the County and School Board levy increases would be. He stated he feared how Arden Hills' taxpayers would be impacted by overall tax increases. Councilmember Monson asked if property taxes have swung strongly towards residential property owners. Finance Director Yang reported there has been a shift but would not characterize it as strongly. She commented in the past the levy has been spread between apartments and industrial, but this has dwindled.