By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The Northfield City Council meets tonight for a work session meeting and a special meeting.
The work session meeting is planned for one item: a discussion of the city’s budget proposals. In July, the council heard three high-level proposals related to the budget and tax levy, with the proposals ranging from a 9.9% tax levy increase to a 17.8% increase. Councilor Peter Dahlen also requested a fourth lower option of a 3% levy increase be considered.
The Ice Arena and the Labor Union are the major drivers of the budget increases. According to city staff, most of the options will require some level of budget reductions:
Listen to the News:
Learn More About The City’s Budget & Tax Levy:
Article: Northfield City Council Hears Initial Budget Proposals; Tax Levy Increase for 2026 Ranges Between 9.9% and 17.4% (July 18th, 2025)
Series on the 2024 Audit of Northfield:
- Article: City Council Receives Audit Report; Northfield’s Finances Stay Strong Heading into 2025
- Article: Northfield Liquor Store Receives Audit; Slightly Outperforms State Average
- Article: Northfield’s 2024 Audit Report Shows High Taxes Compared to Similar-Sized Cities
The Ice Arena Project:
- Podcast: An In-Depth Look At the Northfield Ice Arena
- Article: Northfield City Council Approves Ice Arena Project; Guaranteed Maximum Price Set At $26 Million
- Article: Tax Impacts of a New Ice Arena
Learn more about how your tax bill is calculated:
Budget options proposals presented in July:
- Option A: 17.8% total
- 8.4% Ice/Debt (fixed)
- 9.4% Other
- Option B: 14.5% total
- 8.4% Ice/Debt (fixed)
- 6.1% Other
- Budget Reductions necessary: $575,000
- Option C: 9.9% total
- 8.4% Ice/Debt (fixed)
- 1.5% Other
- Budget reductions necessary: $1.4 million.
At tonight’s meeting, the council will hear the detailed proposals for each budget option, and the council will begin discussion of what they favor. While the agenda was posted last week, we are awaiting supplemental memos that will contain any proposals and details. We will have the proposals posted on our website in todays news.
The Council will continue to discuss the budget in September and throughout the fall. The final budget and tax levy increase will be approved in December.
The Special Meeting of the City Council tonight is to approve the liquor licence for Loon Liquors.
The public can attend both the work session and the special meeting tonight. At the special meeting, you are allowed to comment on the item on the agenda. At the work session meeting, public comment is not taken, and during work sessions, no votes are taken as well.
Tonight’s meeting starts at 6 pm in the Council Chamber of the Northfield City Hall.
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