Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budgeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Emily council adopts revised 2026 preliminary budget and sets 5% preliminary tax levy
Summary
The Emily City Council approved a revised 2026 preliminary General Fund budget of $1,944,554.28 and a preliminary city tax levy of $1,517,933.28 (a 5% increase). The measures passed unanimously after council revisions to the CIP, equipment purchases and debt-service levy additions.
The Emily City Council adopted a revised 2026 preliminary General Fund budget of $1,944,554.28 and set a preliminary city tax levy of $1,517,933.28 at a special meeting Sept. 24.
Mayor Tracy Jones moved to adopt the preliminary levy and Councilmember Daniel Brennan seconded; the council approved both measures on a unanimous roll call. The preliminary levy reflects a council target of a 5% increase from last year and includes recommended levy additions to cover bond and debt-service needs.
City staff and council reviewed the city’s outstanding bond funds and recommended levy additions of $56,800 for Fund 303 (City Hall CIP), $41,650 for Fund 304 (2014 road improvement), and $114,449.25 for Fund 602 (2013 sewer-refunding). Council discussion noted the Crow Wing County preliminary property values used to estimate tax impacts and that, under the county’s proposed values, property taxes could still decline for some taxpayers even with levy increases up to about 9%.
Council members reviewed and revised the proposed Capital Improvement Plan and department budgets before voting. Revisions included reduced line items for Fire & Rescue dress uniforms and pagers, splitting gymnasium subfloor/asbestos work across years, deferred cemetery bench and marker purchases, and reductions to planned equipment purchases (including staging of a Bobcat and spray-injection patcher across multiple years). The sewer fund plan includes budgeting $10,000 for a liftstation pump (six-year replacement cycle), $5,000 for an E1 grinder pump (three-year cycle), and setting aside $30,000 toward an influent control structure replacement within five years.
Council also discussed plans to pursue a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Section 404 application for a generator at City Hall to support an emergency shelter, contingent on Crow Wing County finalizing its Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2026, and possible Sourcewell grant applications or resubmissions for equipment and security items.
The motion to adopt the 2026 preliminary budgets (General Fund and Sewer Fund) and the preliminary levy passed on roll-call votes with Mayor Tracy Jones and Councilmembers Daniel Brennan, Gerhart Hanson, Andrew Hemphill and Gregory Koch recorded as voting "aye." The council recessed to other agenda items and adjourned the meeting at 3:06 p.m.
