By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Glenwood City Commissioners last Tuesday accepted a budget that will mean a 9.1 percent levy increase over the 2023 levy.

The commissioners unanimously approved the 2024 proposed budget and levy after conducting a Truth in Taxation hearing.  That hearing was closed moments after it opened because no one attended.  The final budget and levy had to be approved in December and available to Pope County. 

According to City Administrator Dave Iverson, the 2024 general fund budget reflected an 11.97 percent increase over the 2023 budget.  The budget increase was largely due to wage increases in the various departments.  He said the city had to meet the challenges of retaining its workforce.  

Iverson also told commissioners that the city had not yet reached a final agreement in negotiations with the police department.  Commissioner Brent Cochran asked Iverson if he was comfortable with the police department budget despite no finalized agreement.

“We can pull from some capital funds or nibble from an extra officer that we haven’t hired yet if we need to,” Iverson responded.  “We do have some wiggle room there, so I’m okay with it.”

Iverson also told commissioners that property valuations did have an impact on the city’s tax rate, which stayed close to the 2023 rate of 54.78 percent.  The estimated 2024 tax rate is 56.37 percent.  In 2022 that rate was at 71.20 percent.

Unchanged from the preliminary budget and levy approved by the city in Sept., the final total tax levy was approved a$2,200,7556.  That includes $2,083,229 for the general fund, $9,810 for tax abatement for Midwest Machinery; and $107,716 for bonded indebtedness.

The total 20224 general fund budget for the city came in at $3,436,987, or about 11.97 percent higher than in 2023.

Iverson also said the city benefited from a major increase in Local Government Aid (LGA), funding provided to cities by the State of Minnesota.  He said the legislature gave a significant increase for the first time in many years.  

In other business, the commission:

•Canceled the second meeting in December.  

•Approved the final payment for $3,917 for the 2022 beacon replacement at the Glenwood Municipal Airport.

•Adopted an amendment to the city’s code for vehicular violations.  The approval was contingent on a few language changes.  The purpose of the amendment is provide policy for ticketing and/or towing vehicles or other implements parked illegally on city streets.

•Approved transfers to the city’s general fund, including $45,000 from the Refuse Fund and $40,000 from the Liquor Fund.  The city also transferred $20,000 from the Liquor fund to the Lakeside Fund.

•Approved 2024 business licensing fees.  Those fees were unchanged from last year.

•Denied a request from Richard and Mary Wilson to reimburse a variance fee allowing them to build a handicapped accessible ramp to their home.  The city had already allowed the variance at a November meeting, but tabled the request to reimburse the fee charged to build the ramp.

•Approved a resolution establishing an amended fee schedule for 2024.