Edina council sets preliminary 2025 tax levy at 13.14% after budget discussion

City Manager Scott Neal and finance staff presented the biennial budget process and recommended a preliminary 2025 property tax levy on Sept. 17. Finance director Pa Thao explained staff's recommendation for a $61.5 million property tax levy for 2025 and a proposed 13.14% increase compared with 2024; Pa Thao said roughly 5.46 percentage points of that increase relate to public‑safety expansion and debt service tied to the new Fire Station No. 2.

The staff presentation reviewed the city’s CIP prioritization, a projection of debt service, and the rationale for incremental levy increases to address deferred maintenance. Pa Thao said the city sought to strike a balance between continuing high service levels and addressing infrastructure needs. "Staff is recommending the 61,500,000.0 property tax levy total for 2025," Pa Thao said.

Council members debated options for lowering the final levy prior to the December adoption, including cutting services, delaying capital projects, or identifying other financing levers. Several members emphasized the public‑safety drivers for the increase (additional patrol officers, a mental‑health investigator, neighborhood engagement officer and six paramedic firefighters) and noted the city’s growing call volume for emergency response as a rationale for added staffing.

After discussion, Member Reagan moved and Member Risser seconded a motion to adopt Resolution 2024‑61 as the preliminary levy authorization for 2025 at 13.14%; the motion carried by voice vote. Staff reminded the council that Minnesota statute allows only reductions from the preliminary levy before the December final adoption and that staff will return with additional analyses of possible adjustments and the impacts of any reductions.

The council also granted consent for the HRA levy (Resolution 2024‑65), a 3% increase over the prior year, as part of the same meeting.