Osseo Approves Preliminary Budget, Plans To Add New Police Officer

The Osseo City Council approved a preliminary budget this week that includes the addition of a new police officer.

According to city budget documents, the preliminary tax levy is proposed to increase by 14 percent.

For a roughly $280,000 home, residents could expect to see their city property taxes increase by about $170. However, city council members stressed that the proposed levy increase would be the “high-water mark.”

“I have no doubt we’re going to be able to return a significantly lower number,” said Osseo City Council member Mark Schulz.

Over the last several years, the city council ultimately lowered the levy amount before a final budget was approved.

City Administrator Shane Mikkelson, who also serves as the city’s police chief, pointed to several budget unknowns that will become more clear before a final budget gets approved in December. 

One of those unknowns is whether 5 Central Apartments, a tax-increment financing project, is returned fully to the city’s tax rolls. Another is potential city staff raises, which are usually determined in November.

Schulz said the unknowns are why he supported keeping the levy at a preliminary 14 percent increase.

“But with the unknowns, I don’t want to do 14 percent, but I also don’t want to try to go back and chop everything out, if there’s literally no place to chop it from,” said Schulz.

Other council numbers concurred. They also expected the final budget levy to be lowered, calling the preliminary budget levy the “worst-case scenario.”

“The budget committee, the council have worked very, very hard to make sure we do whatever we can to make sure we are creating as manageable and reasonable budget as possible,” said Osseo City Council Member Mark Cook.

The full budget discussion can be found during the Sept. 22 work session.

Osseo