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Residents decry steep preliminary levy; council trims projection and delays police hire
Summary
Dozens of residents and business owners urged Thief River Falls City Council to slow a proposed 21.82% preliminary property‑tax levy. After lengthy debate on overtime and staffing tradeoffs, the council voted to amend the budget projection to reflect delaying a police hire, bringing the proposed levy to about 19.36% and setting a later hiring window.
Dozens of Thief River Falls residents and local business owners urged the City Council on Nov. 4 to slow a proposed preliminary property‑tax levy they said is driving people and businesses away.
At a packed public‑forum segment, Jim Daig, who organized the appearance, told the council the group represents homeowners, renters and commercial property owners worried about a preliminary 21.82% levy proposed for 2026. “These increases are excessive and are outpacing our income growth,” Daig said. Business owners gave specific examples: Tom Frielis of TRF Mini Storage said his tax bill rose roughly 85.5% over five years; Jared Schertz, general manager of Neighbors Ford, told the council his company’s city‑portion tax increased by about 118% over four years and that employees and customers are feeling the strain.
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