Morris approves preliminary 2025 budget and sets preliminary 2024 tax levy at 7.1%

The City of Morris adopted a preliminary 2025 budget and set a preliminary 2024 tax levy of 7.1 percent at its Sept. 24 council meeting, City Manager Shrupp said.

Shrupp told the council the general fund budget is up about 5 percent — to $5,056,716 — while the city’s total preliminary budget is down about 7 percent to $13,915,958, a change she attributed to the retirement of several bonds. She said higher wages and insurance costs (insurance figures provided as “about 12%”) and an increase in the county policing contract contributed to pressure on the general fund.

“We set it at 7.1,” Shrupp said, explaining the preliminary levy is intentionally higher so the council can lower it later as final numbers are finalized. She said the council expects to refine the levy after a pending utility rate study and a planned wage study are completed.

The council approved the resolution setting the preliminary levy by voice/roll-call vote. Shrupp also announced a Truth-in-Taxation hearing for Dec. 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, where residents can comment on the final levy before the council adopts a final levy.

The city manager emphasized that utility funds (water, sewer, garbage) are funded through separate utility rates and that the utility rate study — expected to consider larger water/sewer customers and potential high-strength waste discharges — will inform future rate-setting and budget decisions.

Next steps: staff will present results of a wage study and the utility rate study to the council at a future meeting; the Truth-in-Taxation public hearing remains scheduled for Dec. 10 at 6:00 p.m.