City Council Adopts 2019 General Fund Budget and Tax Levy

At their December 20 meeting, the Blaine City Council approved the city’s 2019 tax levy and general fund budget. The levy consists of:

• $23,869,100 for general operations;

• $500,000 for the city’s pavement management program (PMP)

• $3,925,000 for debt service

• $300,000 for the parks and trails revitalization program

Additionally, the Council acting as the Economic Development Authority (EDA), adopted an EDA levy of $680,000 for a total citywide levy of $29,274,100. Blaine continues to be one of the lowest taxing full service cities in the Twin Cities metro area.

At that same meeting, the Council also approved the 2019 general fund budget with revenues totaling $32,379,400 and expenditures totaling $32,298,475, providing a safe margin of $80,925. Highlights of the budget include:

• Enhanced median landscaping

• Addition of a Public Service Worker(Public Works)

• Continued modernization of Police Department technology and training

The total citywide levy will drop the city’s tax rate to 36.700%. For a home valued at $200,000 in both 2018 and 2019, property taxes would decrease $2.66 in 2019.

2019 looks to be another good development year for Blaine as the City should continue to add property value through the construction of new homes and robust business development.