NORTH MANKATO — The North Mankato tax levy is likely to increase 12% next year, but the tax rate would increase just 1.6% because of added growth in the city.
Jessica Ryan, finance director, said a home valued at about $289,000 would see a tax increase of less than $30 for 2025.
Under the proposed levy set by the council Monday night, the city budget will increase by $344,000 in 2025, to just under $9.8 million.
The council had been given four options for a proposed levy, ranging from an increase of 9% to nearly 14%.
All of the options provided funding for what the city determined were “urgent and high needs” after staff and council heard from city department heads earlier in the process.
The highest levy option of 14% included adding a drug enforcement agent to the police department, who would work with the local drug task force, while the lower increase options didn’t include the position.
But council members said that while they set a lower levy option they want city staff to find ways to reduce expenses in other areas to still include adding a drug enforcement agent.
Council member Sandra Oachs said she wanted to add a drug enforcement agent but called for an even lower maximum levy, saying the city could find ways to cut more from other areas to fund the agent. But other members said they have put off adding staff for a few years and said the higher levy wasn’t a big increase in taxes.
There will be a public hearing on the proposed tax levy at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 and the council is to finalize the levy on Dec. 16.