As property tax statements arrive in Northfield mailboxes, the city is ramping up its efforts to educate the public about how to interpret the
statement, the proposed budget and levy for 2022, and where to go and who to talk to about the proposed increases.
In September, the City Council voted to set the preliminary tax levy at 15%. The preliminary setting, which is the amount shown on the statements, is the maximum amount that taxes can be increased for next year. Since that vote, the city has worked to reduce the amount using funds received from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act, from 15% to 11.6%.
The increase reflects staff and wage increases within city staff. Specifically, the proposed increase will pay for two more full time employees in the Community Development Department, two full time employees in the City Engineering Department, one more full-time police officer and another police employee to manage the data collected by the new body worn cameras, the City Program Coordinator, the City Translator, and the Station Manager with Northfield Public Broadcasting.
According to the city website, the taxes paid to the city make up 34% of a total property tax bill. The county accounts for 24% of the bill, and the school district accounts for 42%. Those with questions about their taxes are should first look at the statement to verify where those questions should be directed. Questions about valuation of one’s property should be directed to the Rice County Assessor. The Northfield School District has scheduled public hearing during the School Board meeting on December 13, at which time, questions and statements about that portion of a property tax will be entertained.
Northfield City Administrator Ben Martig said it is important that people read their statements so they know which hearing or hearings, they would need to attend.
“If you look on the itemized statement, if you follow the rows across, the city has its own tax hearing. So, if you look at the city’s portion of the tax statement and have questions or if you want to come to that hearing, that will be at the first council meeting in December. It’s pretty easy to follow, but you have to pay a little bit closer attention, because the hearings aren’t all the same.”
The city has scheduled a public hearing to discuss the 2022 budget and levy during the next regular city council meeting at 6pm on Tuesday, December 7th.
Northfield Police and public embracing body cams
Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott said the body worn camera program implemented over the summer is working very well, with only a few more wrinkles to work out.
Elliott said the police officers in his department have embraced the new technology, and were, in fact, eager to use it before the program had even been approved.
The city council first took up discussion of body worn cameras for the NPD in 2016.At that point, the program was found to be far too expensive, but as with all new technology, over the years the cameras became lighter, smaller, more efficient, and most importantly, less expensive. The council approved the program in April, the department took delivery of the equipment in June, and they were in use by mid-July.
Using body camera technology, said Elliott, makes the work of law enforcement more transparent. The cameras are turned on any time an officer has an investigative call, during traffic stops, during self-initiated stops, and any time a contact becomes adversarial. If there is a difference of opinion between an officer and a person who interacted with the police, then the body cam footage will “provide an independent witness” to explain what happened. The members of the department and the public both have responded positively to the cameras, he said.
With the sheer amount of footage generated by the cameras, the department has need for a data manager. A new position is in the budget for 2022, and Elliott said for now, the members of his department are doing their best to share and handle those responsibilities.
“I really have to say my staff has been good about that, and we’ve all been working together to try to meet the demands that come along with [this program]. My sergeants have really stepped up and they’re taking on part of that right now, my records staff is having to do some of that, my evidence tech is doing a fair amount of work in that area, and even myself. We’re all working together to try to get by until we get [someone in] that position.”
Along with the body cameras, the program also calls for new squad car cameras as well that will work on the same platform. That equipment was ordered at the same time as the body cams but has not arrived yet due to supply chain difficulties. Elliott said the department now expects them to arrive in the early spring. The current squad car cameras will be adequate, he said, until the new technology arrives.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott can be heard here
Laura Baker Services Gala will be in-person and virtual
Laura Baker Services Association will host its 26th annual gala on Saturday, December 4th. The fundraiser, which is LBSA’s largest of the
year, will return as an in-person event this year after running as a virtual event in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the virtual event was such a success, and with Covid concerns still lingering, the organization has decided to broadcast the event so people can attend from home if they so wish.
The theme of the gala this year is “Every Step of the way.” A statement posted to the organization’s website said the idea is to reflect “the generous support we have received from the community over the last 125 years and the hope for a bright future in the coming decades.”
The live dinner event, which will be held at Carleton College, is sold out, but tickets to attend virtually are both free and available. Virtual attendees will see the speakers and learn about all the services provided by Laura Baker. They will also have access to the silent auction, the live auction, and the Fund-A-Cause event, when the community is invited to donate to LBSA’s various programs.
Those attending the live event are rereminded that full vaccination for Covid-19 is required for everyone in attendance. Carleton College requires masking indoors of all attendees regardless of vaccination status. Masks may be removed during eating and drinking, however, must be put back on during other non-eating or drinking times. Masks will be provided at the check-in area for anyone who does not have one.
All proceeds raised during the gala will go to fund housing and support services for people with developmental disabilities. For more information on the services LBSA provides, and to register to attend the event virtually, visit laurabaker.org.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
