GRANITE FALLS -- City Council members approved a 2007 levy and budget that includes the possibility of expanding the Police Department by one officer.
Council members approved a total levy of $1,058,734 for 2007 at their meeting on Monday. The general fund accounts for $514,667 of the total, while the remainder is dedicated mainly to debt service, according to information provided by City Manager Bill Lavin.
The levy reflects an overall 14.8 percent increase compared to the 2006 levy, but residential property owners will not see a corresponding increase on their property tax bills. The city's taxable property has grown significantly as a result of the newly built Granite Falls Energy ethanol plant and other developments in the previous year. The actual tax increase was estimated previously for residential properties at just over 4 percent.
The general fund budget approved by council members would provide for increasing the Police Department staff by one officer. Council members discussed the possibility but took no action at this time. Council members said they would like to see what the Legislature does with Local Government Aid payments before acting.
Lavin said council members are also interested in comments attributed to the governor about the possibility of increasing Local Government Aid funds for public safety.
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Council members also adopted a municipal utilities budget that would provide funding for a new lineman position, but also took no action on creating the position.
In other business, council members instructed Chief of Police Russ Blue to enforce the city's ordinance regulating the parking of tractor-trailers in the community. The police have received complaints about the rigs being illegally parked in residential areas.
Council members instructed the chief and officers to issue warning tickets to violators initially, but to follow up with tickets and fines for subsequent violations.
