Edina council adopts 11.03% preliminary levy as debate continues over firefighter hires

The United City Council on Sept. 16 adopted a preliminary property-tax levy of $65,517,752 for payable 2026 — an 11.03 percent increase over 2025 — while continuing a debate over how many new paramedic-firefighter positions to staff. The council set the levy by voice vote after a motion from Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Agnew. Mayor Hovland presided. City Manager Neil told the council the higher preliminary levy was proposed to preserve flexibility while members decide whether to add 12 full‑time firefighters next year if a federal SAFER grant is not received. Finance Director Pa Thao presented the draft budget and said the levy figure incorporates funding to add 12 firefighters in 2026 and contemplates 12–18 additional firefighters in 2027 depending on grant outcomes and Council direction. Why it matters: the city delivers ambulance and paramedic services with city firefighters; council members said current staffing limits the number of simultaneous ambulance and engine responses the city can reliably send. Council members and staff urged public input during the coming weeks before the council adopts a final levy and budget at a Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing in December. Councils’ positions and next steps - Council Member Risser described the hires as paramedic‑firefighters and said current per‑shift staffing leaves the city unable to guarantee three ambulances on the street at once. “We are behind. We are understaffed,” she said, pressing for more hires to reduce risk to residents and crew. - Council Member Agnew said the levy proposal preserves the option to add staffing but urged continued review of costs across the organization, including non‑personnel spending. “There is more we can do as a city beyond calling on broader partnerships,” she said. - Council Member Pierce said the council should be mindful of longstanding heritage‑and‑planning priorities while also weighing public safety needs. Several members said they wanted more work sessions this fall to review tradeoffs and possible program reductions that would lower the levy before the final vote in December. Budget context and fiscal detail Finance Director Pa Thao said the proposed levy funds the general fund and capital needs, and that property taxes remain the single largest revenue source for general operations. The staff presentation included these figures and assumptions disclosed to the council: - Proposed 2026 levy: $65,517,752 (11.03% increase). Council adopted the preliminary levy on Sept. 16. - Estimated impact on a $500,000 home: about $11.53 per month more in city property taxes to fund city services, per staff calculations presented at the meeting. - Fire staffing scenarios: staff built the preliminary budget to support 12 additional firefighters in 2026 if the SAFER grant is not awarded; a 12–18 firefighter staffing increase is modeled for 2027 depending on grant results. - Other budget actions proposed by staff: a 3% cap on most departmental operating growth; elimination of 6 full‑time assessing positions (the city is moving assessing services to Hennepin County) and one fleet position; use of utility franchise fee increases to offset levy needs allocated to street reconstruction previously covered by levy; continued vacancy savings and phased debt planning. Formal action taken - Resolution 2025‑74 (preliminary budget and levy): motioned by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Agnew; vote recorded as voice “Aye” and carried. The council certified the preliminary levy at $65,517,752 (11.03%). Staff noted the council may lower but not raise the levy when it adopts its final levy in December. - Resolution 2025‑73 (HRA levy): earlier in the meeting the council approved a preliminary HRA levy of $267,100 (3% increase) to fund housing and economic‑development staff and programs. Discussion vs. decision - Discussion: council members asked for additional work sessions and public outreach to weigh tradeoffs — how many firefighters to add, what program or capital cuts would lower the levy below the council’s preferred single‑digit target, and how to protect essential services. - Direction: staff were instructed to return with further budget scenarios that show reductions that would bring the levy back under 10 percent, and to schedule additional fall work sessions prior to the Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing. Who spoke (selected) - Mayor Hovland (presiding) — opened and led the meeting. - City Manager Neil — presented context for the levy and staff recommendations. - Finance Director Pa Thao — presented the proposed budget and levy impact analysis. - Council Members Jackson, Agnew, Pierce, Risser and Bragno — led the council’s budget discussion and made the motion to set the levy. - Resident Ralph Zickert (public comment) praised the fire department and earlier urged increased staffing during community comment. What remains open The council left the levy at the adopted preliminary level to preserve options and scheduled additional work sessions and public outreach before a final levy adoption and Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing in December.