The city of Grand Marais sets preliminary levy for 2022

City Administrator Mike Roth addressed the city council on December 8, and he told the council that not much had changed since the board set the 2022 preliminary budget in September.

One unknown said Roth is that the city didn’t have a contract with the union yet, and he didn’t expect that would be done by the time the levy has to be passed at the council’s last meeting in December.

Roth said the city made $1.4 million at the Rec Park this year. But, he added that was because of “primo” conditions this past year with the weather, and the city can’t bank on a season that good again for next year.

Funds from the Rec Park and City-owned liquor store are used to keep the levy down for the property owners in the city.

The 2022 proposed levy is $1,018,830.64, or 2.82 percent over last year. Roth said $10,000 equals one percent of the levy, so the proposal raises the city levy by $28,000 over 2021.

Since September, the most significant change found in the budget is increased expenses by $10,000 and increased revenues by about $40,000, said Roth.

“I feel pretty comfortable with the numbers and the adjustments we made,” said Mayor Jay Decoux.

Over the last five years, the levy has increased gradually, noted Roth, and the city has avoided big swings in the levy. He added he hoped that trend would continue.

Next meeting at the end of December, the board will authorize the levy at 2.82 percent for 2022 unless something causes a significant change in the city finances.