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<br /> <br />Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Sales <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Final Budget for 2021 Set for <br />Approval at November 17 <br />Meeting <br />By State Law, the City of Gem Lake needed to certify <br />a preliminary budget for 2021 by the end of <br />September, which it did. This preliminary budget <br />number was used to send out preliminary property <br />tax notices to city residents. The City began with a <br />preliminary general fund budget of $495,217 and a <br />preliminary property tax levy of $538,308. <br />Then cities get several months to refine their figures. <br />The total bottom line budget number can go down but <br />cannot exceed the preliminary number. On <br />November 17, the Gem Lake City Council is set to <br />vote on the final budget number for next year. <br />There will be a full budget presentation at the <br />November 17 City Council meeting, which will be <br />held virtually. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. At <br />that meeting, City Treasurer Tom Kelly will provide <br />complete details on the final budget numbers being <br />presented. The final general fund operating budget is <br />expected to be $445,535, The final property tax levy <br />for 2021 is expected to be $535,476. <br />This summer the Gem Lake City Council <br />approved the purchase and installation of a <br />memorial bench to honor the late Mayor Bob <br />Uzpen. He died on May 13 after a long battle with <br />ALS. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Bob served as Mayor for 12 years. He was <br />initially elected in 2008 and then re-elected in <br />2012 and 2016. Bob’s biggest asset to the <br />council was his rich experience with finance. He <br />spent much of his career in the banking field. <br /> <br />Prior to moving to the Gem Lake area, Bob also <br />served in the military during the Vietnam War era. <br /> <br />The memorial bench was paid for out from the <br />city’s park fund and the bench was installed along <br />the Gem Lake trail, along the western edge of the <br />Gem Lake Villas project. This trail is public and is <br />open to anyone who wishes to enjoy the area. <br />The park bench will receive an official dedication <br />ceremony next Spring, date and time to be <br />determined. <br /> <br />Price Reduction in Business <br />Licenses for 2021 <br />The Gem Lake City Council approved a reduction <br />in the cost of a business license for Gem Lake <br />businesses in the year ahead. The license cost <br />will be reduced from $100 to $75, as a small <br />gesture towards business recovery in our <br />community. Business licenses are required for <br />folks doing business here in our city and run from <br />January 1 to December 31. Contact Gloria <br />Tessier for more information. <br /> <br />Memorial Bench Honors Bob Uzpen <br /> <br /> <br />Typical rush hour traffic in Gem Lake