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Hibbing council certifies preliminary 2025 levy, proposes $11.06 million levy (9.35% increase)
Summary
Finance Director Sheena Momin told the council the city’s requested preliminary levy is $11,057,316 — a 9.35% increase — driven largely by salary and benefits, a 2.5% COLA and a projected 20% jump in medical insurance premiums; the council approved Resolution 24-0901 by voice vote.
Hibbing’s City Council on Wednesday voted to certify its preliminary 2025 budget and levy, approving a requested preliminary levy of $11,057,316 — a 9.35% increase over last year.
Finance Director and Treasurer Sheena Momin presented Resolution 24-0901, saying the preliminary budget shows a $603,189 increase in general fund spending (2.7%), that the largest portion of the increase is salaries and benefits, and that the budget includes a contracted cost-of-living adjustment of 2.5%. “The requested preliminary levy is for $11,057,316. That is an increase over last year of 9.35%,” Momin said. She also warned of a projected 20% increase in medical insurance premiums when the city’s three-year Blue Cross rate cap ends.
Momin told the council the general fund’s preliminary levy request is $7,112,050, an 8.54% increase from last year. She said local government aid (LGA) — the general fund’s largest revenue source — is expected to increase by $12,963 (about 0.14%), and that expenditure increases are outpacing revenue growth. The presentation noted other levy adjustments for OPEB and capital needs; specific capital-line amounts discussed in the packet were not clear in the record and are listed in the council packet.
Councilors made no substantive amendments and approved the resolution by voice vote.
The certification sets a cap that can be decreased but not increased before final certification in December. The council will continue budget work before that deadline.
