To the Editor,
Well, it’s that time of year when we see the realization of the annual tax increase and this year, we have the proposed Harmony utilities increases.
The Harmony residents have again seen a ~3.33% increase in the city’s budget. If you look back four years, in 2018, the budget was $718,800. For 2022 it is $804,070, a difference of 11.86% or $85,270. That is an average yearly increase of $17,054. Inflation rate for 2018 was 1.9%, for 2019 it was 2.3%, for 2020 it was 1.4% and for 2021 it currently looks to be around ~5%.
Let’s simplify this to our monthly cost and say that a proposed $2,000 yearly tax bill will cost you ~$166.83 per month ($2,000 divided by 12) which appears to be an increase for 2022 of ~$40 over last year (based on value, yours may vary) for the Harmony city portion in your county proposed tax statement.
As reported in the Journal, we will also most likely be receiving an increase in the city utility bills of ~4.94% (3.3% without the approved refuse increase) which using the example given by city, the average household utility bill for two will go up to ~$1,912 from ~$1,821 for 12 months of service, or about ~$7.33 per month based on a current monthly bill around ~$152.00. This is a yearly increase of about ~$91.00. It appears that the monthly costs in the new contract for recycling will be $8.25 and refuse, $9.00 up from the $7 for each previously.
The council tabled the vote on the other utility increases until January, however some folks around would like to know more details on why they chose a bid that will cost residents tens of thousands of dollars a year more than another very similar option/contractor.
Brad Thacher
Harmony, Minn.
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