By Brenda Erdahl
At a special meeting on September 21 the Maple Lake City Council approved a 2024 proposed budget of $1,948,862.00 and its 2024 proposed certified tax levy. The proposed levy of $924,424 is a 19 percent increase over 2023. According to Mayor Lynn Kissock, city staff will continue working with that number to try and reduce it. The City has until the final budget is approved in December to lower the proposed levy, but it can no longer raise it. As the rest of the world deals with raising costs, so does The City and the levy is a reflection of the times, Kissock said.
While The City has, as yet, no numbers prepared to show how the levy is going to affect taxpayers, residents can learn more at a Truth in Taxation hearing scheduled for December 5 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Minnesota’s Truth in Taxation Law requires school districts, cities, and counties to provide a public hearing before adopting its final tax levy for the following year. The Truth in Taxation hearings are meant to enhance public participation in Minnesota’s property tax system. The hearing will include a presentation about the current budget and proposed tax levies. The Maple Lake City Council met again on Tuesday, Oct. 3 where it approved the 2022 audit. Justin McGraw of Conway, Eauth and Schmiesing, PLLP in Litchfield was in attendance to present the audit. The audit is posted on The City website under department, administration.
In other news:
• Fall leaf pick up will start on Monday’s only on Oct. 16 and be available through Nov. 13.
• Council members discussed options for replacing the maple tree that was removed from Birch Avenue. The tree was removed in September because its shallow root system had pushed up the sidewalk and created a tripping hazard. Public Works Director Al Hudek reached out to an arborist who suggested two species of trees that would work in that spot without disturbing the sidewalk. The council advised Hudek to go forward with replacing the maple with the better suited linden tree. Hudek said the tree’s growth would also be stunted to prevent it from getting too big.