12/28/2020 10:24:00 AM
Lindstrom City Council agrees upon levy and budget for 2021
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Action at the Lindstrom City Council’s quite brief meeting last week, included the levy and budget and an increase for city sewer and water fees, and the police chief’s report.
The levy is at $2,504,583 in 2021 which supports an overall budget of $3,119, 623.
Depending on changes made to property valuation a homeowner may see various impacts on their tax bill. See chart for examples.
The tax rate is still around 48 percent, (48.3 in 2020 to 48.7 for next year) which Finance Director Kay Mattson reminded the city council is where it has been for a few years.
Additional revenues come from permits, fees, Local Government Aid, sale of cemetery plots and a host of other income avenues, as well as property tax or the “levy.”
Seperate funds are created to support specific functions that mostly sustain themselves and are often called Enterprise Funds. The sewer and water is an example, and council adopted a 2021 rate hike in this area.
Water usage for household accounts (which are smaller users than commercial sites) will go up per quarterly billing which should bring in $185,000 more annually just in water household billing. The hike starts at 25 cents for small users (in the 5,000 to 10,000 gallon range) from $2 per thousand gallons to $2.25 and it goes up from there.
Sewer is going to $8.80 per thousand gallons up to 5,000... and $9.73 for over 5,000 and continues its increases as quantity grows.
Council was reminded the last time these charges were adjusted was 2012.
Lakes Area Police Chief Bill Schlumbohm said that the MN Office of Traffic Safety has recognized the effective partnership between the private school bus operators with 4.0 Student Services and the police on traffic law enforcement saturations.
The school bus company provided a bus, to carry an officer, who could easily observe violations of hands free cellphone use, etc. in personal vehicles as the bus pulled up alongside. The bus officer could radio ahead to a waiting squad to issue a ticket. The company donated fuel and hours.
Chief Schlumbohm also said the police commission expects to see a final needs assessment for a future new police headquarters at its meeting in January. Chief Schlumbohm said BKB Group design consultants have a preliminary space and layout now.
The two-city police commission decided to use Chisago City-owned land off Karmel Avenue, near the fire hall, on which to locate new police offices. Lakes Area Police are planning to vacate their under-sized space currently in Lindstrom City Hall.
Astech Corp. got final payment on its summertime micro-surfacing projects, the city had two miles re-done.
The 2021 organizational council session was set for Monday, January 4 at 5 p.m. at city hall.
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