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City Council Minutes Page 3 <br /> December 2,2013 <br /> $9,929,235 in September,which is the maximum tax levy the City can adopt. The <br /> Council has directed staff to draft a final tax levy resolution in the amount of <br /> $9,853,835. Mr. Simon reviewed the tax levy by use and compared the levy with <br /> previous years. He also reviewed property tax changes and explained that a number <br /> of factors play a role in determining the property tax amount including the new sales <br /> tax exemption effective December 31, 2013. <br /> Mr. Simon reviewed general fund revenues and expenditures. <br /> Mr. Simon reviewed the special revenue funds and enterprise funds. He stated the <br /> enterprise funds are self-supportive and not supported by tax dollars. Mr. Simon <br /> provided the public with a link to the Minnesota Department of Revenue website for <br /> residents to determine if they qualify for a property tax refund. He concluded that <br /> the council may adopt the 2014 tax levy and budget following public input and <br /> comments. <br /> Mayor Dietz opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak to this issue, <br /> Mayor Dietz closed the public hearing. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard thanked Mr. Simon for the budget presentation and <br /> highlighted areas which played a role in an overall tax rate and levy decrease, such as <br /> implementation of the franchise fee to assist in the long-term funding of the <br /> pavement management program. Councilmember Westgaard felt the Council along <br /> with staff had extensive discussions regarding position needs and necessary program <br /> implementation,which challenged staff to hold the line and be prepared to justify <br /> increases in the budget. He felt the city was in a good position overall in comparison <br /> to peer cities. He felt the budget represents the efforts to maintain services that <br /> residents and constituents would want. <br /> Mayor Dietz felt there still would have been a decrease in the tax levy even without <br /> the implementation of the franchise fee. He stated virtually every commercial <br /> business would see a reduction in their property tax along with the slight reduction in <br /> property values. He had strong differences in the staff adjustments proposed;he <br /> wanted a police detective assigned to the county drug task force rather than the <br /> approval of hiring a deputy fire chief. He stated he didn't feel a full time park <br /> maintenance person was necessary,and for those reasons,would be voting against <br /> the budget even though he was in favor of 99% of the budget. <br /> Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember <br /> Wilson to adopt Resolution 13-73 approving the proposed Property Tax Levy <br /> for collection in 2014 as outlined in the staff report. Motion carried 4-1 with <br /> Mayor Dietz dissenting. <br /> Moved by Councilmember Motin and seconded by Councilmember <br /> Westgaard to approve the 2014 General, Special Revenue, and Enterprise <br /> Fund budgets as outlined in the staff report. Motion carried 4-1 with Mayor <br /> Dietz dissenting. <br /> P O w E R E U 9 1 <br /> 1`4 f U <br />