City’s 2015 tax levy to remain unchanged

Meeting on the last day of the year, Grand Marais city councilors voted to adopt a 2015 tax levy of $824,152.44 – a zero percent increase for the second year in a row.

The levy was last increased in 2013, when it rose from $815,057 to its current level. Councilors had considered implementing a slight levy increase – a modest 0.96 percent – earlier this year, but decided to keep the levy flat when anticipated revenue increases at the city’s Rec Park campground became known. In all, those park revenues are expected to generate an additional $23,700 due largely to new rates going into effect this year.

In a budget-related matter, council voted to grant a 1.5 percent salary increase for all non-union supervisory positions for 2015. The move is in keeping with the union’s two-year contract (2014-15), which calls for a 1.5 percent pay increase for its members.

Because it was the last meeting for all of the councilors except one, Mayor Larry Carlson suggested that a proposal to move forward with the next phase of a biomass district heating project be deferred for members of the new regime to decide. “There’s no such thing as free money, and once we approve this, it takes on a life of its own,” Carlson said. “And I’m not willing to do that. They probably are, but it’s their prerogative, not ours.”

The proposal asked for city acceptance of two $50,000 grants, from the Blandin Foundation and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The money would be used to complete a scope of work that includes discussing service contracts with interested customers, seeking additional funding and preparing for the next state bonding cycle.

Council agreed and voted to leave the decision to the new board, which convenes Jan. 14.

It was the last meeting for Mayor Carlson and Councilors Bill Lenz, Bob Spry and Jan Sivertson; Tim Kennedy will be the lone carry-over into the new year. He will be joined by new councilors David Mills, Anton Moody, Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux and a councilor to be appointed to fill the remainder of Sivertson’s term.