At the December 11 meeting, the Rushford Council approved the final 2024 budget and levy with all present voting in favor. Councilor Leigh Volkman was absent. After months of discussion, the council set the final amount at $1,138,631, a 5.2% increase from the 2023 levy of $1,082,255.
The documentation provided to the council was the same as the preliminary budget and levy information from September, including a basic budget by funds, revenues, and expenditures. It also highlighted historical data on budget percentages, how funds are changing from last year, and an update on the Capital Projects Fund.
City staff provided a comparative rate compilation between Rushford and other county cities. The compilation included the total tax capacity and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) values. The data shows the city’s new tax rate at 73.16. The rate puts the city as the 10th of 15 cities, higher than only Wykoff, Whalan, Fountain and Rushford Village. The city was ninth last time.
“The taxable market value changed and net tax capacity changed, but because the levy didn’t change much, the tax rate stayed relatively the same,” added Zacher. The estimated market value average was a 5% increase.
The city of Rushford is expecting to receive $705,947 in Local Government Aid (LGA). It represents an increase of $65,999 over 2023. The city receives the third-highest LGA in the county, above Preston but below Chatfield and Spring Valley.
A comparison of four random parcels, including one each of a single senior, single homeowner, young family and a new home, showed a relatively low increase for the amount of services provided. The increases in the parcels ranged from $0.15 to $0.24 per day. As noted, this provides administrative services, including council and city staff, financial management and debt services, election, assessment, auditor and legal services, planning commission, economic development, police and fire protection, levee/flood protection, animal control, emergency operations/sirens, ambulance response, zoning, public works’ street maintenance, stormwater control, sweeping and snow removal, weed and insect control, public parking lots, the municipal airport, library, parks, trees, playgrounds, aquatic center, trails, tourism and other items.
The council also briefly discussed the county’s tax increase, noting a sizable increase last year and that sales within the city were less in 2023. However, sale prices continue to be high.
“There was a big jump last year, on average,” said Mayor Terri Benson, referencing the 16% increase for 2023. “It’ll be interesting to see how it goes next year.”
In other news, the council learned that the Local Road Improvement Program state aid application for Elm Street reconstruction was submitted on December 8 by engineer Derek Olinger of Bolton & Menk. The city is seeking just over $1 million for the project. Olinger obtained several letters of support from businesses and non-profits, including the Rushford Peterson Valley Chamber of Commerce and Rushford Historical Society depot and emergency services, all of which have a stake in seeing the project happen. The state will award the funding in March of 2024.
Councilor Sally Ryman did note that the application required potential usage in the application for the former Farmers Win Cooperative site, which the city is purchasing for future development opportunities. The usage listed is not necessarily what is happening with the site.
“There are lots of potential uses. We need to keep that hammering home,” stressed Ryman. “We just needed the potential to put in there.
During reports, the council heard that the much-anticipated work continues at the municipal airport. Good weather may allow the contractor, Olympic Builders, to pour the concrete floor. The preconstructed building has yet to arrive.
Rushford Public Works is looking to install an additional manhole on Maple Street. After discovering some issues, televising the lines was difficult due to the pipe length between existing manholes. Rather than dig up the road, installing a manhole will allow the department to see further in either direction to where problems may exist. There is one problem area, but the area near the levee is also a concern.
Lastly, the Rushford Ambulance Service has joined an area ambulance group consortium to help with training and recruitment. The group will train in-house four to five times annually, including more critical training, and record all for later viewing. The service anticipates gaining one emergency medical responder, a new driver, and an experienced emergency medical technician.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, December 26, at 6:30 p.m. at city hall. Please note the day change due to the Christmas holiday. The public is encouraged to attend.
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