December 2, 2019 City Council Truth-in-Taxation
Public Hearing and Input Minutes
6:00 P.M.
A Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing and Input meeting of the City Council of the City of International Falls, Minnesota, was held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building on the 2nd day of December, 2019 at the hour of 6:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Krause, Nelson and Mayor Droba.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Kenneth Anderson, City Administrator
Brad Ettestad, Finance Officer
Ted Brokaw, Street/Water Commissioner
Emma Rud, Administration Support Specialist
ORDER OF BUSINESS:
- Presentation of proposed City of International Falls 2020 Budget and Levy Collectible in 2020, Kenneth R. Anderson, City Administrator.
- City Council questions/comments.
- Public input/questions/comments.
- Close the public hearing or recess to continue at a future date (Council action-motion).
| Presentation of proposed City of International Falls 2020 Budget and Levy Collectible in 2020 | City Administrator Kenneth Anderson indicated an information packet that was prepared by staff included the following items: 1) Summary of the 2020 proposed Budget and Levy – Highlights in Review; 2) Draft Resolution Approving the Final Tax Levy, Collectible 2020 and 2020 Budget for the City of International Falls, MN, with Exhibit A anticipated to be adopted December 16, 2019; 3) Pie charts illustrating Proposed 2020 Revenues and Expenditures, 4) Local Government Aid (LGA) bar chart for amounts received in years 2006 through 2020 (Proposed); 5) Bar chart reflecting LGA and Property Tax Levy Trends for 2010 through 2020 (Proposed); 6) Table of LGA for years 2002 – 2020 illustrating $1,105,150 in past reductions/unallotments of actual LGA paid to the City; 7) LGA and Property Tax Levy Trends and Changes for years 2010 – 2020; 8) 2020 Summary of Partnership Agency Funding; and finally, 9) background information from the League of Minnesota Cities including preliminary local government levy changes statewide. Administrator Anderson started his presentation with a review of highlights and expenditures by fund as listed in Exhibit A. He noted that LGA was certified to increase by $163,942 in 2020. The total amount of LGA from the State is proposed to be $4,293,898. The actual tax levy was proposed to increase in the amount of $139,572 or 5% over the levy for 2019. The statewide average increase in the 2020 preliminary levies for all cities is 7.5%. The total property tax levy is proposed to be $2,931,036. |
| Public input/questions/comments | Mayor Droba welcomed comments from the audience at 6:24 P.M. Julie Melstrom of 904 6th Street; Bob and Linda Sweney of 809 15th Street East; and Jay Patel of the Days Inn, 2331 Highway 53, were present to address the City Council. Discussion ensued about appropriations for other organizations, tax increases based on changes in property valuation, and road conditions and the need for improvements. Street/Water Commissioner Ted Brokaw explained that it is the goal of the City to do street improvements on 84 blocks of roads in 2020. He commended both the City Council and the public for being so vocal about their desire to see money budgeted towards infrastructure improvements. |
| City Council questions/comments | None. |
| CLOSED the public hearing |
There being no further public comment, Mayor Droba closed the public input meeting and hearing at 6:54 P.M. Mayor Droba further explained the proposed Resolution Approving the Final Tax Levy Collectible in 2020 and 2020 Budget for the City of International Falls, MN, would be on the December 16, 2019 regular meeting agenda for action by the City Council. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:54 P.M. |
ATTEST: Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Kenneth R. Anderson, City Administrator
