The Crookston Ways and Means Committee has recently recommended the preliminary property tax levy be set to 65.09%.
The preliminary levy cannot be exceeded and typically decreases from the percentage set. With the final levy scheduled to be set on December 11, along with the truth and taxation hearing, many changes are expected to occur in this three-month window. “I can’t emphasize enough the preliminary levy, which is at 65%, is just that!” said City Administrator Corky Reynolds. “This is a preliminary analysis of what amount of money would need to be generated to give the departments everything they asked for.”
The preliminary levy being set at 65.09%, which means the city would fulfill every request from the departments that were proposed during the preliminary budget meetings. What the committee is doing now is looking at what those departments need most. Reynolds stated that, realistically, every item that has been presented by the departments will not be considered as an immediate need.
The committee believes there are many benefits to increasing the levy. The city plans to use the money for capital improvements and city equipment repairs. “We would use it for a number of things within each department, and infrastructure being one,” said Reynolds. “Replacing worn-out equipment, getting equipment repaired. We would use the extra money for services throughout the city more effectively and more efficiently with upgraded equipment apparatus, and we can add additional personnel that we could be hiring.”
Examples of needs the departments have brought to the board include the park and recreation department needing new lawn mowing equipment, the public works department proposing additional equipment to be purchased for the garbage trucks, and city streets in dire need of repair. “The levy here would help all of those types of things: sewer and water, waste and water if we need additional employees in areas,” said Reynolds. “Either create positions or pay positions an increased salary.”
Reynolds added that with a levy increase, money can be allocated toward increased salaries to make the positions more competitive with increased salaries that can bring in more qualified applicants and competitive wages.
“This money can go into the economic development department, and they can potentially create a marketing position,” said Reynolds. “The park and rec department could purchase or lease three new lawnmowers. We’re going to be more effective and efficient because the lawnmowers we have are down often, so we can’t get to things that need to be done.” Reynolds stated the extra money generated in the city may allow the departments to run more efficiently with staff and new equipment.
The committee talked about advancing the community, and the EDA specifically is looking to advertise the city in hopes of gaining incoming families to move to Crookston and eventually grow the city population.
The preliminary tax levy will be recommended to the City Council members at the next City Council meeting on Monday, September 25.
