Northfield City council reviews 2026 budget, flags staff and equipment cuts to meet levy limits

City of Northfield — City finance officials presented the proposed 2026 budget on Feb. 12 and urged council members to trim spending to comply with state levy restrictions and legal-budget requirements.

Chief Financial Officer Stollenwerk told the council the city’s surplus stands at about 15% of operating expenses and that Northfield’s credit rating is expected to remain around "AAA-." She said the state-capped appropriations increase is 2%, but the council introduced an ordinance raising the allowable increase to 3.5 percent. Stollenwerk noted expenses — notably health insurance, pension costs and utility rates — have outpaced that allowance and said council must reduce appropriations to produce a legal budget. She told members that a one-cent tax-rate change (.01) equals about $98,000 in revenue to the city.

Why it matters: council members said the city must balance fiscal stability with service needs. Council President Bucci and others pressed for significant reductions to avoid violating the levy cap; Bucci confirmed council needed to make substantial cuts, noting the budget additions require staff action to bring appropriations in line with law. Stollenwerk said she would return with tightened salary estimates and a list of changes at the next meeting.

Key details and contested items

- Staffing and unfunded requests: Councilmembers and department heads debated whether to fund three requested public-works positions. Superintendent of Public Works Boyd said he could convert those requests to part-time roles and reported the department has been short-staffed for eight months; Boyd provided department salary figures and requested three part-time hires without benefits. Councilman Polistina expressed skepticism that the budget could accommodate those positions.

- Public safety equipment and overtime: Fire Captain Nixon and Fire Chief Cummings described needs for turnout gear (roughly $5,500–$6,000 per set), radios and pagers and noted testing and maintenance costs have risen. Captain Nixon said the equipment items under discussion totaled $13,500; CFO Stollenwerk said some items were already funded through the capital ordinance. Council members also discussed police overtime and vehicle replacement needs; the Police Department was noted as needing three vehicle replacements.

- Capital, mapping and asset management: CFO Stollenwerk reported $15,000 in capital for mapping and said the council is evaluating an asset-management program to track infrastructure and equipment across public works and code enforcement. Fleet replacement, pump-station upgrades and potential sewer work tied to affordable-housing projects (Tunnels 2 Towers and a Habitat program) were raised as capital priorities.

- Budget legality and numbers cited: Stollenwerk said council must find at least modest reductions to make the budget legal after additions; in separate comments council leadership referenced a larger required reduction to achieve a zero increase in levy impact. Council members discussed multiple potential trims, including delaying nonessential purchases, scaling back training or CDL costs, and reviewing benefit and overtime lines (the transcript notes retired-officer benefit costs of about $63,000 annually).

Public comment and next steps

Council President Bucci opened a five-minute public comment period; no members of the public spoke. Stollenwerk said she will refine the numbers, tighten salary and uncertain items, and bring a revised list of changes back to the council for further action prior to budget adoption. The workshop adjourned at approximately 5:32 p.m.

No formal motions or votes were recorded at the workshop.