|
Gem Lake News Page 2 of 8
<br />
<br /> 2026 Budget (continued from page 1)
<br />Here are some changes that were made between the
<br />2025 and 2026 Gem Lake Budget:
<br />
<br />• Based on the 2015 Refunding Bond schedule, the
<br />debt levy for 2026 is $77,763. In addition, in 2018,
<br />the City issued bonds for the improvements on
<br />Scheuneman Road and the 2026 debt levy for this
<br />is $8,015. The two of these debts levies make up
<br />the City’s 2026 total debt levy of $85,778.
<br />• City Council wages remained at $9,000 for the year,
<br />which is the same as 2025.
<br />• The City Council contingency was left at $9,000.
<br />• Clerk/General Government budget included
<br />$55,000 for wages and $9,900 for health insurance
<br />coverage. Based on current rates and COLA
<br />increases, this should be sufficient.
<br />• The line items for financial administration and legal
<br />services were reduced, based on past expenditures.
<br />• The Planning & Zoning budget was increased
<br />$12,000, based on past expenditures.
<br />• The Police Budget increased 4.16% to $153,537
<br />based on the City of White Bear Lake budget and
<br />includes $139,470 for police services and $14,067
<br />for the public facilities building.
<br />• The Fire Services is expected to increase 1.22% to
<br />$53,474.00. It includes $35,196 for fire services,
<br />$9,087 for Fire Marshal services, and $9,191 for the
<br />public facilities building.
<br />• The Road Maintenance budget included $18,000 for
<br />road maintenance and repair and $8,000 for
<br />trimming boulevard trees.
<br />• The Ice & Snow Removal budget was increased
<br />2.13% to $24,000, based on past expenditures.
<br />• The Heritage Hall budget included $10,000 for
<br />building improvements and $10,000 for other
<br />improvements.
<br />• The Park Maintenance budget is established at
<br />$14,500 for maintaining the trail area near of the
<br />Villas of Gem Lake and replacing trees as needed.
<br />• The 2026 budget included $20,000 for future
<br />improvements.
<br />• Revenue and other expenditure line items were
<br />adjusted based on history.
<br />These changes resulted in the City’s operating budget to
<br />increase 3.98% and the city to have a final tax levy of
<br />$715,830 for 2026. This compares to the preliminary tax
<br />levy of $768,005, approved in September, and the 2025
<br />final tax levy of $718,736.
<br />
<br />
<br />Using a 2026 property tax levy of $715,830 and the City’s
<br />2026 tax capacity ($1,884,274) and median valued home
<br />($460,750), that median valued home would pay city
<br />property taxes of $1,680 in 2026 compared to $1,806 in
<br />2025, a decrease of about $126. A complete copy of the
<br />2026 City of Gem Lake Budget is available on the City’s
<br />website or at Heritage Hall.
<br />
<br />Deer Hunts Prove Successful
<br />The City of Gem Lake approved
<br />licenses for a deer hunt on several
<br />private properties located in the
<br />south-central part of the city. The
<br />hunt took place over the course of
<br />several approved weekends and
<br />proved to be highly successful. A total of 20 deer were
<br />harvested on these properties. The majority of harvested
<br />deer were doe, which is the best way to control the
<br />population in the area. While the season started slow due
<br />to unseasonably warm weather, the later season hunts
<br />proved to be more effective. Property owners involved
<br />expressed their appreciation for the dedicated team of
<br />hunters that donate their time and expertise to help
<br />manage the ever-growing herd in Gem Lake.
<br /> The harvest will help support local families by providing a
<br />valuable source of venison both to the hunters as well as
<br />the community. This year a total of 7 deer were donated to
<br />the local food shelf thanks to a partnership with the
<br />Minnesota DNR and White Bear Butchery. This
<br />partnership uses a part of each license fee to cover the
<br />processing and donation.
<br />
<br />
|