Debate about the Northfield City Taxes Continues
On Tuesday night during the Northfield City Council meeting, Councilor Davin Sokup made an impassioned plea to the rest of his colleagues and the city staff members in attendance. Looking at a preliminary tax levy increase of 15.8%, Sokup asked if there was anything in the budget that could wait until the tax base is, as he put it, “in better shape.” Sokup said the increase is too much for lower earning families and those on a fixed income, and he was looking for ways to mitigate the increase until Northfield’s commercial tax base has grown.
Speaking the next day on the KYMN Morning Show, City Adminstrator Ben Martig said he is sympathetic to Sokup’s plea, but the he does not see a good way to avoid another double digit increase to the city’s portion of the property taxes.
“I don’t like spending the money,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’ve put ourselves in this position.” Martig was referring to the idea that past city councils did not raise taxes enough for many years. Mayor Rhonda Pownell has previously said that holding the levy increase to 1 or 2% in years when more revenue was needed was “irresponsible.” Many on the council have referred to past councils “kicking the can down the road,” meaning they left problems and necessary maintenance to future councils.
Martig said new revenue is required to hire new police officers, for the rising costs of road repairs, for safer playground equipment, and many other important services the city offers.
He said the best way to mitigate the problem and spread the tax burden out is to keep working with the business community and do what is necessary to make it easier for commercial and industrial businesses to move here.
Ben Martig
“I can’t stress enough the importance for Northfield to be open for business and to try and grow our business and attract new business to the community. And I think that we are making a lot of inroads from when I was first here to be ready to do that. And I’m not saying that happens overnight, but I think being open to new growth areas is really important.”
The City Council will set the preliminary tax levy at the September 17th council meeting. Once in place the levy can be reduced, but not enlarged. There will be additional budget adjustment meetings and hearings throughout the fall. The city council is scheduled to approval the final budget and tax levy on December 2nd.
You can listen to Jeff Johnson’s Interview with City Administrator Ben Martig here.
Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Working to Keep Costs Low
As the City of Northfield is writing its budget, a significant portion of that budget will go to the Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Service. NAFRS is a partnership between the different area communities to pay for fire services, with Northfield paying about 70% of the budget with Dundas and the rural townships paying the rest.
Overall, Fire Chief Tom Nelson says that the operations budget has mainly remained “flat,” with only a small increase in expenses. However, equipment costs have gone up significantly with inflation. The department has taken significant steps to help limit the impact of new equipment costs, primarily by staggering large equipment purchases. In 2024, NAFRS paid for half of a new fire engine, and in 2025, it will pay the other half. Additionally, the department has been working to keep equipment in good condition to last longer.
Nelson and the NAFRS board have worked to save money each year for future equipment purchases:
“I think the goal that the whole board wants is that we will still be creating a sinking fund so that we’re building. It’s the analogy of do you save money for vacation or do you put it on the credit card? We’ve been able to save money for vacation through budget. And through timing to be able to make the pain, not quite so bad.”
There have also been additional costs with the hiring of a full-time Fire Chief. However, the position has also been able to bring in new revenue as well from code enforcement and permits. This has helped reduce the cost of the full time chief position.
The NAFRS Budget will be approved by both the Cities of Dundas and Northfield in the fall.
You can listen to Fire Chief Tom Nelson’s full interview with Jeff Johnson here.
FEMA State Disaster Recover Center Closing Saturday
The Faribault FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center located at the Washington Recreation Center is set to close permanently on Saturday.
Last month, the federal government approved Rice County for FEMA aid. The Emergency Management Division of the Rice County Sheriff’s Department, in partnership with Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management, assisted FEMA in establishing the center to offer those in need assistance in navigating the process of applying for disaster relief.
Rice County residents and businesses who suffered losses during the severe June 16-July 4 storms and flooding event will still be able to apply for FEMA or Small Business Administration assistance. There is no need to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to apply for FEMA or SBA assistance. To apply, visit disasterassistance.gov, download the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-821-3382.
For more information about Rice County’s click here or call 1-833-643-7423.
Logan Wells is the incoming KYMN News Director
