Greater taxes would support road improvements

The Albert Lea City Council unanimously approved a preliminary budget and 3.3 percent increase in the property tax levy for road projects Monday evening.

Under the preliminary budget, the 2016 tax levy is $6.16 million, an increase from $5.96 million in 2015.

The increase would be approximately $14 a year on a $100,000 assessed home, according to Chad Adams, Albert Lea city manager.

The tax levy can only be decreased before December when the final budget is set. The city can’t raise the tax levy before then, per state law.

Adams said there will be no increase in the general fund levy for the fourth year in a row. The general fund levy covers the police, fire, streets, parks, library, engineering and administration departments.

A lot of construction is slated for 2016, as well as in the years following. Major capital projects included in the 2016 preliminary budget include Park Avenue reconstruction. Reconstruction will include the water and sewer mains, and the road itself. Road reconstruction is planned for Lake Chapeau Drive. Lakeview Boulevard construction is planned from Hatch Bridge to Martin Road. Construction is also planned on Edgewater Drive and the airport at the arrival and departure building. The city will get grant funding on the airport project from state and federal aviation and transportation authorities.

He said the increase is typical and for the last several years, tax levy increases have ranged from 0 to 3 percent. Most of the increases have been for street infrastructure improvements.

The city is looking at adding a job in the Public Works department that would assist the street department. The city is also looking at hiring a full-time police officer in either early or mid-2016. He said a half-time position will also be added back to the Public Works department to help in the office.

Adams expects less of a travel impact from construction in 2016.

Albert Lea City Councilor Larry Baker advised the city to try to find ways to reduce the tax levy.

The schedule for the budget includes:

• October and November: Presentations and work sessions in relation with the budget.

• Dec. 14: Final levy and budget adoption.

Albert Lea resident Rhonda Moen, former city finance director, expressed concern over the city raising taxes.

“You cannot do all these projects,” Moen said. “If we continue to raise taxes the way you do, the businesses will continue to leave because of it.”