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Gardner council adopts resolution to set public hearing on exceeding revenue‑neutral rate
Summary
Council adopted Resolution No. 2195 to express intent to exceed the revenue‑neutral property tax rate and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 8, 2026; staff said the proposal keeps the mill levy at 17.814 mils, about one mill above the revenue‑neutral rate, and council asked for line‑item budget details before final adoption.
The Gardner City Council voted to adopt Resolution No. 2195, directing staff to set a public hearing on the governing body's intent to levy a property tax exceeding the revenue‑neutral rate and proposing a mill levy of 17.814 mils. Staff said the revenue‑neutral rate is 16.933 mils and characterized the proposal as maintaining the city’s current mill levy while complying with state notification requirements.
City finance staff (Matt Wolf) explained the process: adopting the resolution establishes the maximum the city may propose and triggers public notice and a Sept. 8, 2026 public hearing at 7:00 p.m. Wolf said the difference is “about a mill” and staff estimated that magnitude would produce revenue in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars; council asked staff to publish the detailed line‑item budget several weeks before the hearing so members and the public can review proposed increases and one‑time items.
Council members asked clarifying questions about how valuations and pending county tax appeals affect final levies and about the size of the proposed budget increase; staff said the 2027 general fund budget reflects roughly a $385,000 increase over the 2026 base (largely one‑time items and capital project costs) and that final levy calculations will follow county valuation updates. Councilmember discussion emphasized that adopting the resolution does not lock the council into the proposed rate — the council can set a lower levy at final adoption after the public hearing.
A motion to adopt Resolution No. 2195 carried by voice vote; the council approved the resolution and directed staff to follow the required public‑notice steps and make detailed budget materials available prior to the hearing.
