At the Monday, December 10 meeting, the Rushford City Council unanimously approved setting the 2019 property tax levy at $936,000. This represents a 2.52% increase over 2018 levy of $913,000. The 2.52% is a net increase, representing a 5.43% decrease in debt service, but a 2.91% increase in operating costs. The $23,000 increase will provide an additional $6,500 to the General Fund, $2,500 to the Economic Development Authority (EDA), $4,000 to the Airport Fund, and $10,000 to Capital Projects.
This is the smallest percentage increase in the levy over the last four years and the cautious increases have been the result of needs, not frivolous spending. “Like all of us, it’s making sure we’re not spending extravagantly; to make sure we’re not pushing the envelope of keeping these funds too well funded, but not shortchanging the departments either,” said Councilor Terri Benson. “That’s where I struggle. It’s making sure we’re not being, ‘Oh, yeah. We need to keep it at this level;’ not increasing just for the sake of increasing.”
In Rushford, market values and tax capacity are up, while the tax rate is down. Values jumped nearly $3.4 million and the tax rate stepped down six tenths of a point. This rate puts the city fourth from the bottom in comparison to the other 13 municipalities within the county, despite having the fourth highest taxable market value. City Clerk Kathy Zacher provided documentation highlighting a variety of parcel occupant examples, breaking out the cost per day for city services, by demographic and market value.
“It’s good to look at how these tax rates come out,” she said. “There are cities with considerable more taxable market than us. It’s good to see the history; if going up or down, if there’s growth or not.”
The decision was one of only two general business agenda items and garnered the lion’s share of discussion. Another item of interest discussed was a report item regarding a change in funding of operations on the Rushford Area Historical Society Depot building. Situated along the Root River State Trail, a portion of the site had been funded and maintained by the Department of Natural Resources since the trail’s beginning and it was the only site along the trail funded by the DNR.
As of December 31, the department will no longer fund operations in the building, which included a portion of the electrical and gas utility payment and public restroom supplies. The city currently budgets to pay electrical, sewer, and water bill on depot side. The cost of the former DNR-side utilities are $330 for electric and $550 for gas.
“We could easily take on paying the whole utility bill,” said Zacher, who suggested the city cover the electric portion and donations from organizations could be arranged to fund the gas utility portion. “There are ways we can help the Historical Society survive this, but it’ll be a combination of a few groups.”
Mayor Chris Hallum expressed his frustration with the DNR decision saying, “Personally, I don’t want to let the DNR off the hook.”
Zacher clarified that the department has no obligation to the site. Councilor Jim O’Donnell agreed, noting the building may be in the community, but it is owned by the Historical Society. “They don’t have the funding to support it all,” he noted. The matter will be brought up at the next council meeting.
City Administrator Tony Chladek also made a point in requesting any public questions on EDA discussions of community needs be brought to him. “It allows me dial in on how to provide more input,” he said. “I can’t answer questions that I don’t get.”
“We’re somewhere between 90-97% built out. People need to start getting their minds around that. Whether that means something with the elementary/high school building or building outside the city, we need to start doing something. We need to keep communicating where we’re at and why; why is the big part.”
“If we aren’t looking, we’re not growing. If we’re not growing, there’s going to be challenges,” added Benson.
There are still volunteer positions on various commissions. There’s one position on the Planning Commission, two on the Airport Commission, two on the EDA, and one on the Electric Commission.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Monday, December 17, at 6:30 p.m., at city hall. Please note the meeting is one week earlier than usual to accommodate the holidays. The public is encouraged to attend.
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