Gardner council work session leans to leave mill levy unchanged amid revenue, service concerns

At a work session that began at 6:00 p.m., Gardner City Council members and staff discussed whether to lower the city's mill levy and reviewed possible revenue options, including a rental-license program and raising a fine for commercial trucks.

The exchange centered on rising property valuations, pressure on service levels and parks maintenance, and the city's use of incentives to attract large development. Council members repeatedly emphasized that property-tax collections have risen primarily because market values have increased, and they debated whether a modest mill-levy cut now would force deeper service cuts later.

The discussion mattered because speakers said recent increases in home valuations are driving higher tax bills for many residents. One councilmember urged caution about moving small amounts between funds, saying the potential loss of funds could hurt parks and trails and other planned projects. Another councilmember argued the city must continue to pursue large commercial projects near interstate interchanges to grow revenue rather than implement steep service…