by Dennis Dalman
A final city budget and levy of $10,421,500 for 2025 was approved unanimously by the Sartell City Council at its Dec. 9 meeting.
According to Sartell Financial Director Rob Voshell, who presented details of the budget, the total levy was maintained at the $10,421,500 amount in order to preserve a flat tax rate. That overall flat tax rate, he noted, is based on the tax capacity estimates from the county assessors. It means the average residential homeowners and business owners will not see an increase in the city’s share of their property tax bill unless their market value increases.
The city council approved a preliminary 2025 budget and levy at its Sept. 23 meeting. The final one approved Dec. 9 consisted of few or no changes.
Here are the salient features of the new budget and levy:
The total General Fund proposed levy for 2025 is $7,977,000, which is an increase of $827,000 or 11.6 percent more than in 2024. The total levy for 2025 is $10,421,500, which is an increase of 3.2 percent from 2024, or $318,500. The city’s net tax capacity is estimated to increase by 3.4 percent in 2025. To compare with previous years, the city’s net tax capacity increased 9.2 percent in 2024 and 17.5 percent in 2023.
Expenses
Here are the main categories of estimated costs:
General Fund: $7,977,000
Capital Building Fund: $30,000.
Police Department Equipment Fund: $80,000.
Fire Department Equipment Fund: $80,000
Public Works Equipment Fund: $160,000.
Tech Fund: $20,000.
Emergency Management Fund: $6,000.
Street Fund: $420,000.
Debt Service (Pinecone Road Project): $460,000.
Debt Service (Public Works Facility): $163,500.
Debt Service (Public Safety Facility, fire and police departments’ building) $950,000.
Debt Service (New Fire Truck) $75,000.
Cost break-downs for five major city categories are:
Public Safety: $6,482,718.
Public Works: $1,808,000.
Parks and Recreation: $1,505,300.
General Government: $1,316,250.
Community and Economic Development: $226,400.
City Revenues
Property taxes of $7,977,000 will generate 70 percent of the revenues in the General Fund and is based on the operating needs of the city after all other revenues have been subtracted from the expenditures.
Here are the anticipated sources of city funding, other than from property taxes:
Intergovernmental funding (such as state aid and federal sources): $1,493,468.
Charges for services: $936,950.
Licenses and Permits: $600,500.
Investment Income $50,000.
Fines and Forfeitures: $47,500.
Refunds and Reimbursements: $36,000.
Miscellaneous: $25,000.
Contributions and Donations: $21,250.
