Lilydale Approves Steady Levy, Four Years in Row

The Lilydale City Council approved a stable tax levy for 2012 at their meeting Monday night, as well as their 2012 budget.

The city will collect $476,300 in taxes.

“Our levy has remained the same since 2009,” said City Administrator Teish Stafne. The city also receives income from liquor licenses and permits, fines, interest, rental of the city hall property and franchise fees from Northern Dakota County Cable Communications Commission and gambling taxes.

Mayor Anita Pampusch said that some residents will still see a slight increase in their city taxes due to the conversion of the Homestead Market Value Credit to a Homestead Market Value Exclusion program that goes into effect next year. The change lowers the overall value of the city's market value for tax purposes, resulting in a higher rate for property owners.

No residents spoke at the hearing.

The city's total 2012 budget is $584,000, however the city’s 2012 revenue and spending projections are likely to change due to construction at the former tennis club site.

Building permit fees for part of the senior living and apartment project that city staff expected would be paid in 2012 arrived early, said Stafne.

Those adjustments will not affect the levy being paid by taxpayers.

The city’s biggest expenditures projected for 2012 in the approved budget include $205,000 for police protection from the Mendota Heights Police Department and $38,500 for fire protection from the Mendota Heights Fire Department.

The council also approved a contract for the incoming city administrator, Mary Schultz, on Tuesday.

Schultz’s contract provides a salary of $46,000 a year plus benefits, with a six-month probation period. The city also has budgeted $23,850 for the city’s administrative assistant.

The city council, mayor, planning commission and planning commission chair's monthly payments will total $20,200.