Saint Paul Park council adopts preliminary 2026 tax levy, schedules final vote for Dec. 15

The Saint Paul Park City Council adopted a preliminary 2026 tax levy and preliminary 2026 budget under Resolution 17-53 on Sept. 15 and set the final levy adoption for Dec. 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Councilmember Swenson moved to adopt Resolution 17-53; the motion carried 5-0. Councilmember Winston proposed the Dec. 15 date and time, and the council approved that scheduling by unanimous vote. Mayor Franke explained the preliminary levy is an initial figure that gives staff time to refine the final number before adoption. “We set our initial tax levy, and then we allow staff time to work it hopefully backwards,” Mayor Franke said. Why it matters: the preliminary levy begins the statutory process that leads to the city’s final property-tax request for 2026 and establishes a timeline for public notice and final action. What happened: the council debated none of the specific levy figures at the meeting; the resolution and the meeting record show only that a beginning levy was set and that staff will return with final numbers on the Dec. 15 agenda. Next steps: staff will prepare the property-tax calculations and supporting budget documents for the council and public ahead of the final adoption hearing on Dec. 15, 2025.