Laserfiche WebLink
Rn•INEW <br /> 1U BRIGHTON <br /> building tomorrow today <br /> Council Worksession <br /> August 10, 2021 <br /> 5:00 pm <br /> Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas <br /> Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle <br /> Councilmember Graeme Allen <br /> Councilmember Pam Axberg <br /> Councilmember Emily Dunsworth <br /> Absent: <br /> Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Brenda Davitt, Gina Foschi, Jennifer Fink, Craig Schlichting, Tony <br /> Paetznick, Trevor Hamdorf <br /> Guests in Attendance: <br /> 2022 Budget Discussion <br /> Massopust provided the Council with a detailed overview on the 2022 budget and described how this would <br /> impact property taxes. He explained staff was looking for concrete feedback from the Council in order to <br /> prepare a preliminary tax levy for approval in September. <br /> Councilmember Axberg questioned what this budget will do for the City. Massopust stated he was most <br /> excited with the fact this was a continuing budget after scaling back in 2021. He was pleased the City was able <br /> to add services back after COVID. He believed New Brighton had bigger City values and was setting the <br /> budget accordingly. He explained he appreciated the priority New Brighton has placed on its infrastructure and <br /> parks. His only concern with the budget was having enough man power to institute all of the priorities within <br /> the budget. <br /> Davitt discussed the budget further with the Council. She explained the budget was to create a financial <br /> document that represents the City's vision for 2022 and beyond. She commented on how the Comprehensive <br /> Plan and Parks Comprehensive Plan were reflected in the budget, along with CIP and street improvement <br /> plans. She commented how the City had worked to complete its street projects without the reliance on external <br /> debt. She reviewed the proposed levy which was currently at $11,475,600 which represents an increase of <br /> $873,200 from 2021 or 8.24%. She reviewed the items within the budget that led to the increases in the tax <br /> levy and noted the parks improvements that would be completed in 2022. Transfers out of the General Fund <br /> were discussed in detail. <br /> Massopust reviewed the proposed changes to the IT department. <br /> Councilmember Allen questioned how much health insurance would increase in 2022. Massopust stated he <br /> was still waiting to get the final numbers,but anticipated the increase would be 6%to 7%. <br /> Councilmember Axberg asked how the City determined its COLA. Massopust reported he bases this off of the <br /> increases being proposed by comparable cities. Davitt indicated COLA increases were being proposed as part <br />