The Mora City Council passed its 2024 budget and property tax levy in a narrow 3-2 vote at Tuesday’s meeting.
The city’s property tax levy is up 17.73% from 2023.
As part of the city’s efforts to lower the property tax levy, the debt service levy to support Housing and Redevelopment Authority payments was removed.
City accountant Kelly Christianson explained that the decision reduces the burden on taxpayers.
"There is more than sufficient funds for us to be able to pay that debt service with what has already been levied and what is actually sitting there in the bond reserve," Christianson said. "And it is a disservice, we believe, to the residents of Mora to continue that HRA debt service levy when it is not needed."
Council members Jody Anderson and Sadie Broekemeier voted against passing the budget.
Broekemeier later explained why she voted no.
"Can we keep people in their homes, and can we keep people from busting at the seams? Especially our renters, who have no control over what their property rental is," she said. "So if we increase the taxes, they increase their rent, and it just creates this cycle of what I feel would be as a city of living outside our means."
Administrative Services Director Natasha Segelstrom said Mora’s tax capacity is expected to increase by over 11 percent by Kanabec County estimates.
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