Blaine council adopts 2025 property tax levy after heated public hearing

The Blaine City Council on Dec. 16 adopted a resolution setting the city’s maximum property tax levy for collection in 2025, following a Truth in Taxation hearing in which several residents urged the council to lower the proposed increase.

Finance Director Jason Zimmerman presented the budget highlights and the levy mechanics, saying the resolution before council reflected a 14.98 percent increase from 2024 (down from a 17.1 percent preliminary figure) and included a $400,000 reserve to protect against delinquencies. Zimmerman said capital prefunding, debt service and personnel costs — including union-negotiated increases and three proposed new positions, among them police officers and a forester — were principal drivers of the levy rise.

Residents at the hearing described the levy as unaffordable. "My taxes went up 19% ... that's $1,000 this year," Barb Bailey said, urging the council to reconsider added budget items. Another resident asked, "How on earth did we arrive at ... 15%?" and pressed whether projects such as the 105th Avenue reconstruction were inflating the levy for residents who will not directly benefit.

Council members said they had scrutinized the budget across multiple workshops. Council Member Robertson said she personally removed items totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars and pointed to core services and deferred maintenance as drivers that limit cuts. "We pulled $350,000 out of the budget," Robertson said, noting trade-offs between amenities and essential services such as police, public works and pavement management.

Council debate also focused on alternative revenue streams. Several members noted that neighboring cities use franchise or utility fees that can lower the property-tax burden, and said Blaine would consider broader revenue options in the coming year. Council Member Massolia announced she would not support the budget as presented.

After discussion, Council Member Fleming moved the resolution (seconded by Council Member Larson). The clerk conducted a roll-call vote: Fleming — Aye; Larson — No; Miss Solia — No; Newland — Yes; Robertson — Aye; Mayor Sanders — Aye. The motion prevailed, 4–2.

The council and staff said the next steps include certification of final levies, submission of required Truth in Taxation forms to the Department of Revenue and publication of budget summaries. Director Zimmerman also emphasized that prefunding capital can reduce long-term interest costs; he gave an example that a $12 million street reconstruction bond would accrue more than $4 million in interest over 15 years if financed now rather than prefunded.

The resolution’s adoption does not finalize every line item for future years; staff said the city will continue to pursue alternative revenue options and further budget work in 2025.