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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — DECEMBER 8, 2025 n Mayor Grant opened the Truth in Taxation Hearing at 7:53 p.m. Ed Dickinson, 3188 Asbury Avenue, addressed the Council noting he understood the City was seeing increased costs for police and fire. He thanked the Council for the many hours that were spent working on the budget and for making Arden Hills a great community. Kelly Rytel, 3585 Ridgewood Road, discussed the PIR Fund and asked the Council to properly fund the City's streets. She indicated she could support the proposed tax levy and recommended the surplus funds from 2025 be placed in the General Fund for replenishment. Steve Erler, 1704 Chatham Avenue, thanked the Council and City staff for all of their efforts on the 2026 budget. He understood this was a difficult process. He discussed how costs were rising for police and fire, as were the costs for street improvement projects. He reported the largest single increase in the budget, beyond police and fire, was the City's contribution to the PIR Fund. He supported the City's proposed PIR Fund contribution and commended the Council for doing what needs to be done. He stated after reviewing agendas and listening in to Council worksession meetings, he was satisfied with the proposed budget and tax levy increase. Russ Bertsch, 4419 Amble Circle, thanked the Council and staff for their efforts on the budget. He reviewed his property tax statement from 2020 and commented on where the City was going. He expressed concern with how his property taxes have increased 70 and Ramsey County has increased 42%. He expressed concern with how he would be impacted if these numbers continue to increase that property values would begin to decrease. He questioned if the personnel that were missing in 2025 should be added to the 2026 budget, given how services were not impacted for residents. He explained he was disgusted without people were acting these days and stated there needed to be a cleanup. He hoped there would be a return to respect for other human beings. He commented further on how the school district increase was not included in the City's numbers which meant Arden Hills homeowners would be seeing an increase in taxes that was over $20 per month. David Radziej, 1144 Waldon Place, addressed the Council regarding the proposed tax levy. He was of the opinion the Council bring the increase below 10% if the surplus from 2025 were reallocated. He noted he has asked to serve on a City Committee and has not been granted this opportunity. He explained he was concerned with the fact the City spent $100,000 on a study for parks and questioned why this task was not completed by staff. Emily Carr, 4265 Norma Avenue, stated her property taxes would increase $225 and she fully supported these increases. She indicated she wanted to live in a City that had adequate funding and appreciated the fact Arden Hills had the third lowest tax rate in Ramsey County. She was not concerned about pricing people out of the City. Lynn Diaz, 1143 Ingerson Road, reported no one wants to pay more for the same services, but she understood life doesn't work that way. She commented on how the cost for everything was on the rise. She discussed how the school levy would increase her taxes, but she supported this because the proposed improvements would keep children safe. She stated she understood that delaying maintenance on the City's streets would increase costs in the long -run. She appreciated the fact staff compared the City's proposed tax levy to neighboring communities, noting Arden Hills was on the lower end. She thanked staff and the Council for working diligently to keep costs