Maple Grove Approves $48.6 Million Budget
The Maple Grove City Council unanimously approved a $48.6 million general fund budget at this week’s council meeting.
The total expenditures would go up $2.9 million, a 6.4 percent increase. More than $1.5 million of the increase is the result of wage, cost of living and health insurance adjustments.
The budget accounts for personnel additions, including the hire of a full-time city forester.
In voting for the budget, council members recognized the weeks of work that went into the final product.
“I do feel like it’s a fiscally responsible budget that will also elevate at the same the public services we deliver here,” said Maple Grove City Council member Kristy Janigo.
For the average Maple Grove home of roughly $431,000, city taxes would go up about $17 next year, according to the city’s budget presentation.
Before the vote, Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson pointed out the city doesn’t use fees to pay for many of its improvements.
“Unlike a number of other comparable communities, we don’t use a franchise fee system to pay for a lot of our expenses,” said Steffenson. “I know that in neighboring communities those franchise fees have seen significant increases over the last couple years.”
According to city budget data, Maple Grove’s tax levy increase of 6.7 percent was second lowest compared to similarly sized cities, behind only Eden Prairie.
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