By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Editor’s Note: We are trying something new with this article. With some of these larger topics, we want to be able to provide some shorter content as well. You can read the full story here (it’s 1,380 words) or see the shorter summaries below.
The Story In 100 Words:
The Northfield City Council began debating the 2026 budget and tax levy, driven largely by costs for the new $22.9 million ice arena and rising employee wages. Staff presented levy options of 14.5%, 9.9%, or 3.0%, each requiring budget cuts ranging from $578,000 to $2.6 million. Cuts could affect fireworks, partner organizations, street maintenance, and city staffing. The 3% option would mean losing 11 positions and reducing library and police services. Council members were split, with some favoring minimal increases and others pushing for higher levies to preserve services. The preliminary levy will be set in September, with final approval in December.
The Story In 300 Words:
On Tuesday, the Northfield City Council reviewed its first detailed 2026 budget and tax levy proposals, marking the start of months of debate leading to December’s final vote. The primary cost drivers are the new $22.9 million ice arena, which alone would raise the levy by 8.4%, and increased employee wages to remain competitive.
Staff presented three levy options:
- 14.5% increase ($324 more per $350K home) – $578,000 in cuts, including ending the July 4 fireworks, delaying siren repairs, and reducing funding to community partners.
- 9.9% increase ($216 more per $350K home) – $1.395 million in cuts, deeper reductions to partner groups, four staff layoffs, and less street/trail maintenance.
- 3% increase ($48 more per $350K home) – $2.617 million in cuts, full elimination of partner funding, major maintenance cuts, rent hikes for 50 North, and 11 staff layoffs, including library closures two days a week and fewer police patrols.
Council members were divided. Mayor Erica Zweifel 9.9% option to “hone the budget,” while Councilors Jessica Peterson-White and Kathleen Holmes favored higher levies to avoid steep cuts. Others, including Councilor Davin Sokup, were undecided, citing conflicts with the city’s strategic plan.
No decision was made. The preliminary levy will be set in late September, the maximum possible for 2026, with final approval in December.
The Story in 500 Words:
The Northfield City Council has begun discussions on the 2026 budget and tax levy, Tuesday evening, with a months-long process now underway. Final decisions will be made in December, but public input is most effective now.
Two main factors are driving the need for increased revenue: the new $22.9 million ice arena, approved earlier this year, and matching employee wages to market rates. The ice arena alone accounts for an 8.4% levy hike, or about $201 more per year for a $350,000 home. Though there are no new positions planned, labor contracts and wages are set to rise to remain competitive and retain employees.
City staff presented three options for the tax levy:
- 14.5% increase ($324 more per $350K home) – $578,000 in cuts, including eliminating July 4 fireworks, delaying emergency siren repairs, and reducing funding to partner organizations (Health Community Initiative, History Center, Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, and Age Friendly) by 20%. As well as reducing the Fire Department budget.
- 9.9% increase ($216 more) – $1.395 million in cuts, increasing partner reductions by 50%, further decreasing street/trail maintenance, and laying off four staff (one each from public works, library, police, and community development).
- 3% increase ($48 more) – $2.617 million in cuts, eliminating partner funding entirely, raising 50 North rent at the Community Resource Center to $172K immediately, cutting street maintenance further, and laying off 11 staff (10% of the workforce). This would reduce police patrols, close the library on Sundays and Mondays, and cut programs.
City Administrator Ben Martig stated that staffing cuts would directly reduce service levels in public works, policing, parks, and library operations.
“That’s what people are as people is providing a service and service level where they’re talking about the library and you know, providing programming and having hours open or if it’s the Police Department patrolling the street, responding to issues, public works, people working on streets, pulling weeds in our parks, those kinds of things. So those are all Things to consider when you talk about reduction in people, it is talking about reduction in service level too.” – Ben Martig, Northfield City Administrator on KYMN In The Morning
Council members were split. Councilor Peter Dahlen backed the 3% option, while Mayor Erica Zweifel supported the 9.9% levy increase, viewing it as a chance to realign spending with strategic goals. Councilors Jessica Peterson-White and Kathleen Holmes supported higher levy options to preserve services, arguing the ice arena’s costs were anticipated. Councilor Davin Sokup expressed uncertainty, saying some proposed cuts conflicted with the city’s new strategic plan.
No vote was taken. The council will revisit the issue in September, setting the preliminary levy at month’s end (the highest rate allowed), then refining the budget through fall before a December final vote.
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