by Dennis Dalman
The Sartell City Council has just approved a “flat-tax” final city budget for 2022 – flat tax meaning many, if not most, residents and businesses will not see a tax increase unless their market values increase.
The council voted unanimously to approve the budget and levy at a public hearing Dec. 13 at city hall. No one in the audience offered any comment on the budget/levy.
The general budget is $6,248,000, an increase of about $644,000 (11.48 percent) from this year’s budget. The preliminary levy for 2022 is an estimated $7,880,000, an increase of about 6.6 percent from this year.
The city’s net tax capacity is expected to increase 6.58 percent for 2022. That net tax capacity increased 7.6 percent last year and 4.34 percent in 2021.
The major areas of the budget are public safety (55 percent), general government (17 percent), public works (16 percent) and culture and recreation (12 percent).
The city’s general fund levy is increasing to pay for additional employee positions and for wage increase in all departments. Also increasing are the police and fire department expenditure funds to enhance safety and to prepare for future capital expenditures.
Council members praised Sartell Finance Director Rob Voshell and all of the city and departments staff for keeping costs down as low as possible, which made the flat-tax budget possible.