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Green Isle hears third-quarter financial report; council previews 2026 levy, keeps $10,000 ambulance cushion
Summary
At its Nov. 25 meeting the Green Isle City Council reviewed an un-audited third-quarter report from Abdo showing roughly $1.9 million in cash and investments and a proposed $64,541 (9.41%) levy increase for 2026; higher tax capacity would lower the estimated tax rate, and the council left a $10,000 ambulance payment shifted to capital in the draft budget.
David Mueller of Abdo presented the city’s third‑quarter financial review on Nov. 25, reporting roughly $1.9 million in cash and investments and summarizing line‑item variances across the general and enterprise funds.
Mueller told the council the proposed 2026 levy would increase by $64,541, a 9.41% change over 2025, but the city’s larger tax capacity means the estimated city tax rate would fall about 12.38%; the average residential homestead was projected to see an approximate 3.68% decrease in city property taxes if the figures hold.
The report flagged several variances: tax receipts are below prorated budget because the second‑half distribution is typically received in December; licenses and permits exceeded budget due to higher permit revenue; and the city received insurance proceeds from the League of Minnesota Cities to cover hail damage and related vendor payments. Mueller also reviewed enterprise‑fund items including a transfer from the water to sewer fund and a lift‑station generator replacement expense in the water budget.
Council members pressed staff on a $10,000 payment that had been moved from the Arlington ambulance account into the city’s capital outlay. Mueller said that the money was shifted into capital to preserve the current levy but that the council could remove or reallocate it before the final levy-setting meeting. "If we drop the levy down $10,000, you would be looking at just over a 1% decrease in your tax rate," Mueller said.
Several council members said they preferred leaving the $10,000 in the draft budget as a cushion for future capital needs — including a planned rescue truck — and agreed staff should confirm the placement before the final certification with the county. The council is scheduled to finalize the levy and budget at its December meeting (the TNT meeting referenced by staff), when the levy will be certified for taxes payable in 2026.
What’s next: staff will provide a final memo and resolution for the council to set the levy and adopt the 2026 budget at the December meeting; the council retains the option to alter the $10,000 ambulance allocation before certifying the levy.
