City Council Meeting Date: September 15, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Administrator, Ben Martig
Finance Director, Brenda Angelstad
Title
Discussion of 2027 Budget and 5-Year Capital Plan and Capital Equipment Plan in Preparation of Budget Adoption on September 22.
Body
Action Requested:
Discussion only.
Summary Report:
Please see attached presentation and background materials. The Council was scheduled to discuss the 2027 proposed budget at a September 8, 2026 work session. However, due to time constraint that discussion was postponed and combined with this work session discussion.
Staff is seeking direction on the preliminary tax levy and corresponding budget option at the meeting with consensus direction by Council at the worksession.
Proposed (Preliminary) Tax Levy 2026 Payable 2027
Staff has included added detail on final adjustments recommended. Staff provided an alternate Option B that would provide a 9% preliminary maximum tax levy, which includes added positions, versus a 6.8% option from the initial roll up. Staff is seeking consensus direction on a preliminary tax levy and corresponding budget to prepare for the September 22nd agenda item.
Proposed (Preliminary) Budget 2027
Corresponding budget details from the original “roll up” will be made following the worksession next week after direction is made on the adjusting revenues and expenses on the corresponding tax levy options.
NEW: Rice County Library Reduction in Funding to City of Northfield (and Faribault and Lonsdale)
On Tuesday, September 8th the Rice County Board of Commissioners approved a substantial 10% reduction in funding support to all public libraries including Northfield. Commissioner Malecha and Underdahl opposed. Staff is working to understand the reductions, lobby for supporting the funding requested, and concurrently reducing budgeted library expenses (to stay within current budget & tax levy parameters) and related service levels in response. W...
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