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City Council Minutes <br />November 1, 2021 <br />Page 4 <br />Mr. Femrite stated the fee schedule will be considered soon and requested Council <br />guidance on a sewer rate increase for 2022. Council consensus was to follow the <br />results of the report and increase the sewer fee by 4.5% this year and adjust as <br />necessary after the long-term planning is complete. <br />10.2 Wastewater Treatment Facility Position Rehire <br />Mr. Stevens presented the staff report. <br />Council consensus was to fill the current vacancy with a Was ater Systems <br />Operator. <br />10.3 2022 Budget <br />Ms. Ziemer presented the staff report. <br />Mayor Dietz questioned options to lower tie budget increase. Ms. Ziemer explained <br />the only way is to reduce expenditures. She noted increased revenues will reduce the <br />levy but not the General Fund increase. <br />Councilmember Westgaard inUL!lu <br />cing the head count is the most impactful <br />way to decrease the budget. <br />Mayor Dietz questioned the average increase for residential taxes. Ms. Ziemer <br />explained the packet includes the estimated tax impact of various property values. <br />She noted if there were no property valuation increase residents would experience a <br />decrease in their taxes. Mayor Dietz noted he understands most homes in Elk River <br />will see a 5-8% increase in property value. <br />Mayor Dietz questioned if budget adjustment requests will be available by the <br />December budget hearing. He indicated it's possible that money could be used to <br />Offset 2022 expenditures. He added it is crucial to have the figures by the budget <br />hearing because the numbers cannot be changed after that date. He asked staff to <br />obtain the adjustment numbers by the hearing in December and if money is left over <br />the Council can decide if they want to spend it on 2022 budget items. <br />Ms. Ziemer stated it will be close as many departments wait until the end of the year <br />to see what they have left. <br />Mr. Portner explained staff has gone through their budget already to identify 2022 <br />budget items that can be purchased in 2021. He noted some items cannot be <br />purchased ahead of time. <br />Mayor Dietz indicated he is recommending expenditures from the pickleball court <br />repair come from budget excess and not out of the Park Budget as it wasn't the <br />Parks Department's fault. <br />P O W E R E D 0 Y <br />UREJ <br />