Prior Lake City Council approves preliminary budget, $12 million preliminary tax levy

Prior Lake American

Taxes are always certain, to paraphrase Benjamin Franklin — and Prior Lake is no exception.

The Prior Lake City Council approved a preliminary tax levy of more than $12 million for the 2018 budget Monday night. 

The levy amount is the maximum the city can tax properties in Prior Lake — the amount could be lowered further along in the process.

The levy goes toward general, debt service, revolving equipment, revolving park and facilities managements funds.

The proposed $33 million budget is about half a percent lower than the amended 2017 budget. For a home worth about $338,000 taxes would decrease by a little more than half a percent, or about $12 annually. A home worth $600,000 with a five percent market value increase would also decrease a little more than half a percent, or about $16 annually. 

Council members expressed concern about the size of the personnel budget, which totals about $560,000 and how much large equipment, such as firetrucks, is needed for one calendar year.

There will be a budget work session on Nov. 6 and a town hall hearing on Nov. 9.

In other action at the Sept. 18 meeting, the Prior Lake City Council:

• Held a public hearing and adopted the assessment roll for the 2017 Mill and Overlay Improvement Project. Construction of the project is complete. Residents have 30 days to pay their amount with no interest. Individual properties pay $1,200 and multi-unit properties pay $960 per residential equivalent density and have five years to do so. If the full amount is paid in the next 30 days, there will be no interest. "I believe that this is poor public policy and I believe it's a grossly inefficient way of doing our street maintenance," City Councilmember Kevin Burkart said.

• Approved a vacation of a portion of drainage and utility easements on Cove Point Circle.

• Gave a status update on the County Highway 21/Highway 13 project. Another open house will be Oct. 10 for residents to view and comment on the project alternatives currently on the table. "It is vitally important we hear from all in regards to this project," Mayor Kirt Briggs said.

• Approved the consent agenda which included a final plat of the Haven Ridge project, approving an off-site gambling permit for Prior Lake-Savage Optimist Club, received department reports and more.