The Breezy Point City Council unanimously approved the 2019 budget and general revenue tax levy during its regular meeting Monday, Dec. 3, at Breezy Point City Hall.
City Administrator Patrick Wussow presented the final budget to the council. The numbers largely remained the same as the preliminary budget the council adopted in September.
The total adopted tax levy for 2019 sits at $2,042,021. The levy increase remains at 4 percent, meaning the total levy amount increased $78,539 from this year.
The county's projected tax rate for Breezy Point has been estimated at 41.956 percent, a decrease from last year's rate of 42.862 percent.
Wussow explained that even though the levy was increased by 4 percent, the city portion of property taxes will decrease.
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"This happens because the assessed property value came out at a higher rate than the budget increase," he said.
However, residents may still see the dollar amount of their taxes increase overall. The projected tax rate is at a lower percentage, but higher assessed property values may outweigh the decrease in the tax rate.
Breezy Point's total operating revenue budget for 2019 is $2,376,746. Property taxes are expected to account for 78 percent of that budget. Other sources include the debt service levy, EDA fund, cemetery fund, charges for services, licenses and permits and intergovernmental revenues.
The projected operating expenditure budget for 2019 is likewise $2,376,746. Public safety is the largest area of spending, weighing in at 35 percent of total projected expenditures. Public works follows at 20 percent. Other expenditures include, but are not limited to, planning and zoning, parks and recreation, city council and general government expenses.
Wussow said Breezy Point currently has the third lowest proposed tax rate in the region at 41.95 percent, just behind Nisswa at 33.43 percent and Crosslake at 30.14 percent.
The council voted to approve the 2019 budget and levy after there were no questions from council members nor community members.
In other business Monday, the council:
• Approved a counter offer on a bid for airport lots 47, 48 and 49. Aaron Baruch placed a bid at a Nov. 26 auction to purchase all three properties for $15,100 to build a home and airplane hangar. The council voted to counter the bid with an offer to sell at $20,100, with the caveat that the city will reimburse Baruch $5,000 if he secures building permits by Sept. 1, 2019.
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• Renewed liquor licenses for The Commander Bar and JJ's Pub, Breezy Point Resort, Antlers, Deacon's Lodge, Pelican Square and Billy's Bar and Grill. Police Chief Kevin Merschman said all six establishments passed inspection Monday morning.
• Increased the pay rate of contracted city planner Jerry Bohnsack from $35 to $40 per hour.
The Breezy Point Police Department responded to 145 offenses in November, including five animal related incidents and three traffic arrests.
