Oakdale City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Story
Oakdale approves 6% property tax increase for 2025
Constitution Week and Day Proclamation
Recognition and Farewell for Council Member Noah Her
Condemnation of Domestic Violence in the Hmong Community
Community Events and Updates
Votes (2)
Adoption of Proposed 2025 Property Tax Levy and Establishment of Truth in Taxation Meeting Date
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [18:05] · Seconded by Unknown [18:17]
Finance Director Kyle Costas presented the proposed 2025 property tax levy of $19,699,000, representing a 6.11% increase ($1.1 million) over 2024. The increase would result in an approximate $44 (3.42%) increase for the median residential property. The levy supports four new full-time employees (Police Sergeant, Public Works Maintenance Worker, Fire Marshal, Finance/HR Clerk), training, vehicle/equipment prefunding, strategic development, Willowbrook Commons park funding, and COLA adjustments. Mayor Zel highlighted the eight-month budget process and noted that the proposed levy is a ceiling, allowing only decreases, and stressed the council's effort to balance community needs with taxpayer burden, especially compared to higher increases in neighboring cities. He also emphasized financial strategies like not financing equipment and decreasing debt service.
Close Oakdale Economic Development Authority (EDA) Meeting to Discuss Real Property Offers
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [31:24] · Seconded by Unknown [31:32]
The Oakdale Economic Development Authority convened separately from the city council. The primary agenda item was to discuss offers and counter offers for the purchase or sale of two specific real properties identified by their PIN IDs. The City Attorney advised moving directly to a motion to close the meeting.
Notable Quotes (3)
assumptions and factors impacting the 2025 Levy and related budget uh include removal one time expenditures and revenues four new regular full-time employees including one licensed Sergeant in the police department uh one maintenance worker in public works one Fire Marshal and one uh ft increase total for finance Clerk and human resource generalist
between now and December we can only go down we can only decrease the tax levy if we need to we can we cannot go above it this is the ceiling this is a step we take every single year
as some cities as a lot of cities around us and around the Metro we're looking at Double Digit increases in their tax levy um we worked very hard to rely on the financial investments and strategy we've laid out for the last few years to avoid that as much as possible
Ordinances & Resolutions (5)
Authorizes the President to designate September 17th through 23rd as Constitution Week.
Resolution adopting the proposed 2025 property tax levy and establishing the date for the Truth in Taxation meeting.
Statute cited for closing the EDA meeting to discuss real property offers.
PIN ID for real property discussed by the EDA.
PIN ID for real property discussed by the EDA.