Purpose:  Each taxing authority must certify its proposed preliminary property tax levies for payable 2026 to the County Auditor by September 30, 2025.

A budget/levy slide presentation will be provided that will outline the city's proposed 2026 levies and General Fund Budget.

 The city held several worksessions on the proposed 2026 preliminary budget and related levies, with the last worksession, prior to preliminary adoption, being held on September 9, 2025. 

Proposed 2026 Payable Tax Levy:
Proposed Tax Levies:

General Fund Levy:	$   18,286,749
Pavement Management Fund Levy (Included in General Levy)	$     2,033,819
EDA Levy (Included in General Levy)	$          86,367
Debt Service Levy:  CIP Bond (Municipal Center) (Being Requested)	$       1,142,000
Debt Service Levy - CIP Bond ( Fire Station #2) (Being Requested)	$          234,393
Debt Service Levy - 2023 Equipment Certificates (Being Requested)	$          148,200
2022 Reconstruction Debt -  $12M of additional Road Projects (being Requested)	$       1,042,263
Debt Service Levy - CIP Bond (Public Works Campus) (Being Requested)	$            87,276
2016 Reconstruction Debt - Andrie & Overlays (Being Requested)	$          114,253
2017 Reconstruction Debt - Sunwood Drive & Alpine	$            90,416
2018 Reconstruction Debt - River's Bend & Stanhope Terrace	$          111,180

Total Proposed Levy - 2026

$ 23,376,916

Based upon the proposed levy, the City's estimated tax rate is projected to slightly decrease in 2026 from 46.214% (2025) to 46.158% subject to final property and tax calculations by the County.  The attached resolution, as it is presented, reflects a levy of $23,376,916. The proposed levy for 2026 reflects a $1,426,222 (6.50% increase) over the adopted levy in 2025 of $21,950,694.

The levy increase of $1,426,222 has the following contributing factors:
          
          1.   Additional Personnel Requests - New positions and additional hours - $457,825
                  Personnel additions of a part-time Communications Specialist (4/1/26 start), part-time Evidence & Property Technician/Records Management Technician (3/2/26 start), full-time Firefighter/Fire Technician (3/2/26 start), full-time Builidng Inspector/Plans Examiner (April 1, 2026 start), full-time City Engineer (January 5, 2026 start), full-time Engineering Tech II (April 1 2026 start) and  Additional Hours to FT for Police Records Technician (1/2/26).

       2.  $751,177:  Personnel: COLA, Steps, PERA, FICA/Medicare, Health Insurance, Workers Comp, Severance and Paid Family Medical Leave.

       3..  $146,701:  Line item increases:  Website redesign, Street Maintenance, Software Licensing, Etc.

       4.  $96,849:   Pavement Management Levy:  5% annual increase

       5.  ($26,330):  Debt reduction 
    
       6. ($0): EDA Levy decrease.

     
2026 Proposed General Fund Budget:  $22,789,599 ($20,373,610 - Year 2025)
        
2026 Proposed EDA Budget:  $91,167  ($91,367 - 2025).
   
All EDA and General Fund documents are included together, as the EDA levy calculates into the total general levy calculation of the city and thus accounts for the several motions listed below.

While the proposed levy can always be reduced, it cannot be increased without "higher" level approval through an appeals process.  Until the budget and levy is formally adopted on December 9, 2025, there will be budget worksessions to continue discussions on the Proposed 2026 General Fund Budget and 2026 Proposed Levies.

The proposed levy must be certified to Anoka County by Tuesday, September 30, 2025.  Therefore, the Council must make a decision prior to that date in regards to the amount of this levy.  If the proposed levy is not passed for any reason, the adopted 2025 levy ($21,950,694) will be certified as the city's payable 2026 levy.

Schedule Budget Public Hearing Date:
The Truth-in-Taxation (TNT) law was changed in 2009. The City is no longer required to hold a special TNT hearing or to publish a notice of the TNT hearing. In lieu of the eliminated formal TNT hearing, the City is required to hold a regularly scheduled meeting at which the budget and levy will be discussed. The City may adopt the budget and levy immediately following. The public meeting must be held between November 25 and December 30 and held after 6:00 P.M.

Staff is recommending that the public meeting be held at its regularly scheduled meeting of December 9, 2025, with adoption of the 2026 General Fund Budget and levy to immediately follow.

The public meeting date must be certified to Anoka County by Tuesday, September 30, 2025.  Therefore, the City Council must make a decision as to the date selected for the 2026 payable public meeting at tonight's meeting, unless a special meeting is called.

1.  Adopt Total Preliminary Levy of $23,376,916. 

2.  Adopt Total Preliminary Levy of $_________ based on discussion.

3.  Retain Levy at 2025 Final Levy Adoption of $21,950,694.

Motion to recommend Council Adopt Resolution #25-221 Approving the Proposed 2025, Payable 2026 Tax Levy in the amount of $23,376,916 and to schedule the City of Ramsey's budget/levy public meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 2024, at 7:00 p.m and Adopt Resolution #25-222 Adopting Proposed 2026 General Fund Budget and Resolution  Adopt Resolution #25-223 Adopting Proposed 2026 EDA Budget.

NOTE:  Each Resolution will be adopted by a separate motion.