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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 16 Councilmember Monson said scenario D2 is 17%. She asked if that's the total. Finance Director Yang said that includes the 15% in the general fund, which is not a balanced levy. We still have to consider that $122,000 from the 2025 deficit. The 17% includes the $100,000. Councilmember Monson asked if it was 17% and if we want to balance the previous fund, it's another 2%. Mayor Grant asked if Councilmember Monson was looking at the 20% under D 10. Councilmember Monson isn't recommending 20%, she's just saying that was the top she saw for trying to set the preliminary. She sees now it's 22%. City Administrator Jagoe said we received an update from the Ramsey County Sheriff's department on their proposed 2026 budget. She will forward the information as we learn more from the Sheriff but it appears their amount for 2026 has gone up. It is a preliminary levy increase of 1.7%, or $105,000. Councilmember Weber asked if that was for our portion. City Administrator Jagoe confirmed. The $105,000 is our cost share. Discussion ensued regarding the other Contract Cities have already set their preliminary levies. We are actually at an advantage by not having set ours, when we learned of this increase. It's not good news but we can still consider it before setting our Preliminary Levy. Mayor Grant asked where the $165,000 franchise for the fire department is, in the budget. Finance Director Yang said that is sitting in the Fund Balance. Mayor Grant said we're getting that on an annual basis but he didn't see it accounted for, anywhere. Finance Director Yang said it is accounted for in the Public Safety Capital Fund. It is sitting there to cover a portion of the debt service. Our revenue is $435,000. We're paying down debt service. The additional $165,000 sits in the Capital Fund. Mayor Grant said it is sitting in the Capital Fund, but he doesn't see it acknowledging the $165,000 overage. Finance Director Yang said it may not be in this presentation. Mayor Grant said the $165,000 could be used to cover a fire truck, something in the fire department, or to increase staffing levels. Finance Director Yang said that would be up to Council direction.