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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes December 19, 2023 2 | Page
<br />The City was notified on September 12 that it would be part of a routine audit which has been scheduled
<br />for Friday, January 5, 2024.
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<br />Mayor Artig-Swomley informed those in attendance that the Council would begin with the MS4 public
<br />hearing, and that the public would have a chance to provide input on the topic.
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<br />Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to open the public hearing at 7:13 p.m. on the MS4 report,
<br />seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all in favor, motion passes, the public hearing is
<br />opened at 8:12 p.m.
<br />
<br />Councilmember Lindner had a questions regarding the new public involvement activity that includes
<br />pollution prevention or water quality theme. He was curious if a cleanup day would fulfil that requirement.
<br />Mrs. Jennings replied that the MPCA requires documentation for the activity and that it could be a
<br />possibility, but it may be hard to prove. The City would have a better chance fulfilling this requirement if it
<br />partnered with a watershed. The public and Council had no additional comments or questions.
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<br />Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to close the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. on the MS4 report,
<br />seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Voice vote taken, all in favor, motion passes, the public hearing is
<br />closed at 8:14 p.m.
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<br />Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing
<br />City Treasurer Tom Kelly gave an overview of the 2024 budget and property tax levy for the City of Gem
<br />Lake. The City Council is asked to approve (pass) Resolution #2023-0029, Adopting the Final 2024
<br />General Fund Budget and Property Tax Levy. The 2024 proposed final property tax levy is proposed at
<br />$697,081, which is a 7.042% increase from the 2023 final property tax levy. The 2024 preliminary
<br />property tax levy consists of a debt levy of $84,418.00 (an increase from 2023 debt levy of $2,094.00) and
<br />the general operating levy of $612,663.00 (an increase of 7.693% from the 2023 tax levy). The following
<br />changes were made from the 2023 adopted budget as a basis for the 2024 proposed budget and property tax
<br />levy:
<br />1. Based on the 2015 Refunding Bond schedule the debt levy for 2024 is set for $76,269.00. In
<br />addition, in 2018, the City issued bonds for the improvements on Scheuneman Road and the 2024
<br />debt levy for this issue is $5,285.00. The two of these debt levies makes up the City’s 2024 debt
<br />levy of $81,554.
<br />2. Did not include small government aid from the State since the City no longer qualifies. This
<br />reduces revenues by $7,000.00.
<br />3. City Council contingency left at $9,000.
<br />4. Clerk/General Government budget includes $60,000.00 for wages and $11,000 for health
<br />insurance coverage.
<br />5. Clerk/General Government budget does not include $75,815 for the new software.
<br />6. Planning & Zoning budget increased $4,000.00 based on past expenditures.
<br />7. Police budget was increased 12.38% to $129,466 based on the City of White Bear Lake budget
<br />provided us and includes $115,877 for police services and $13,589 for debt payments on the new
<br />public facilities building.
<br />8. The cost of fire services could increase 43.04% to $48,669.00. It includes $31,982 for fire
<br />services, $7,746 for fire marshal services, and $8,941 for debt payments on the new public
<br />facilities building.
<br />a. Overall, the City of White Bear Lake would like you to pay $22,530 for the next 20 years
<br />for their new facility.
<br />9. Road Maintenance budget includes $20,000 for road maintenance/repair and $10,000 for trimming
<br />boulevard trees.
<br />10. Salt/sand reduced $3,000 to $12,000 and snow plowing contract decreased from $17,000 to
<br />$14,000, both based on past expenditures.
<br />11. Heritage Hall budget includes $12,000 for building improvements to the office doors and front
<br />window for security and $12,000 for the irrigation system.
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