By Rich Larson
The Northfield City Council has approved a preliminary property tax levy of slightly more than $21.1 million for 2027, an 8.6% increase over this year. Council members will continue refining the budget before setting the final levy in December.
City Administrator Ben Martig said spending in the city’s major operating funds is projected to rise about 3.6%. The proposed budget accounts for higher costs for fuel, utilities, supplies and labor. It also includes three new positions: a police lieutenant, a second public works mechanic and a public works operator.
Martig said the lieutenant would take on management duties, allowing police sergeants to focus more on supervising officers in the field. The additional mechanic would help the city perform more routine vehicle maintenance in house and plan for future staffing changes. The operator would help maintain streets and parks, including pothole repairs.
For a typical homeowner whose property value stays the same, Martig estimated the preliminary levy would add a little more than $12 a month to the city portion of the property tax bill, or about 5.4%. An individual bill can change differently depending on property values and other factors.
The council also approved 2027 utility rates. Martig said the combined city utility bill, which covers water, wastewater, refuse and stormwater services, will rise by just under $5 a month for a typical household, or roughly 5%.
The preliminary levy sets a ceiling: the council can lower it before final adoption but cannot raise it. Mayor Erica Zweifel said a pending decision about funding for city communications could affect about 1.3 percentage points of the proposed increase. A possible grant for one of the new positions could also reduce the amount needed from property taxes, at least for next year. She said it is too early to know whether either possibility will change the final levy.
Zweifel also pointed to the city’s expanded public engagement on the budget this year. She said additional open houses drew useful feedback, and she expects the city to build on those sessions next year.
The council is expected to adopt the final levy at its first meeting in December.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
