Jasper approves up to $30,000 for Baker Tilly to advise on MUST and SEA1 implications

The Jasper Common Council voted to retain Baker Tilly for municipal advisory services to support the city’s participation in the Municipal Unit Strategic (MUST) task force, approving the engagement for an amount not to exceed $30,000.

Park Treasurer Kirsten Kaneise introduced the item and told the council Baker Tilly will help the city assess local income tax structure, distributions to overlapping taxing units and what the city will need to continue funding services and projects under changes enacted by SEA1. Kaneise said the work will help Jasper prepare for negotiations with the county and to develop information to present to legislators by the end of the year; staff indicated some deliverables are needed by October.

Kaneise said the $30,000 would be paid partly from her contractual services budget and partly from the common council’s contractual services budget. Council members asked whether other jurisdictions are using Baker Tilly and whether the county had engaged the firm; staff said Baker Tilly has worked on similar matters and that the teams representing different taxing units would be independent where necessary.

A motion to approve the Baker Tilly engagement not to exceed $30,000 was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Council members described the advisory services as important for the city’s long-term revenue planning under the SEA1 changes.