SLP Passes $30.4 Million Budget; Property Tax Levy to Rise By 3.5 Percent

Correction: A previous version of this story could be read as saying that all St. Louis Park homes will see a property tax increase. About half of households will see their property taxes decrease.

The St. Louis Park city council unanimously passed a $30.4 million 2014 budget Monday evening that includes a 3.5 percent property tax levy hike.

The budget includes a $25,577,908 levy—an increase of $864,967 over 2013. 

The levy is structured so that 49 percent of homes will see a tax reduction, 35 percent will see an increase of less than 5 percent and 8 percent of homes will see an increase greater than 10 percent.

“We have a genetic propensity to figure out if we’re getting what we’re paying for—that’s what Americans are good at,” Mayor Jeff Jacobs said. “The taxes are what they are, but I think they’re worth every dime.”

The council also approved a $120.1 million capital improvement plan that calls for $87.3 million of city money to be spent between 2014 and 2018 on the Highway 7 and Louisiana Avenue interchange project, Highway 100 reconstruction and other improvements and repairs. Non-city resources, such as the Met Council and federal, state and county governments, are expected to pitch in $32.8 million, according to the plan.

A $949,359 HRA levy approved by the council Monday will go toward funding the Highway 7/Louisiana project, which began this year. The levy is a 5.38 percent increase over 2013, the maximum increase allowable by law.

The city council voted 6-0, with Sue Santa absent, in favor of the budget, the HRA levy and the capital improvement plan.