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Minutes <br />City Council Work Session <br />Monday, September 8, 2025, 5:00 PM <br />City Council Chambers 12780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 <br />ROLL CALL <br />Council members present: Mayor Bob Tunheim, Alisa Benson, Jacqueline Ricks, Steve Persian, Jon <br />Schwingler. <br />Staff present: City Administrator Adam Edwards, Finance Director Maggie Jin, Accountant/HR <br />Representative Anne Hentges, City Clerk Christine Lusian, Parks and Facilities Superintendent Joe <br />Ruthenberg, Public Works Superintendent DJ Goman, Community Development Director Laura <br />Oakden. <br />2026 BUDGET <br />The Finance Director presented a revised preliminary 2026 general fund budget and tax levy. <br />Adjustments include reducing pavement by $100k, facilities by $25k, street trees/maintenance by <br />$50k, and general fund levy by $72,400. City is awaiting health insurance proposals. The proposed <br />tax rate is 16.405%, slightly up from 16.361% in 2025, with a 6.72% levy increase of $10.28M. For <br />a median home valued at $1.1 M, this equates to about a $10 monthly increase, while Orono remains <br />one of the lowest in property taxes among comparable cities. The general fund budget is $12.48M, a <br />4.6% increase, reflecting inflation, rising market values, and pending union wage negotiations. It <br />was noted that once the preliminary budget is set, the levy cannot increase but funds can be shifted <br />between areas. <br />Council discussed several items needing further analysis: the shift from Central Services to Facilities <br />Services, IT budget growth with police security requirements, and comparisons of police budget per <br />capita and council compensation with peer cities. Concerns were raised about sustaining parks <br />maintenance after significant investment, with suggestions to engage residents in volunteer efforts. <br />Questions were also raised on Spring Park Public Works allocations, golf staff winter duties, and an <br />expenditure transfer. Staff were directed to provide follow-up analysis on Personal vs Professional <br />Services, as well as peer city comparisons of police budget per capita and council compensation. <br />ADJOURNMENT <br />Work session ended at 5:53 p.m. <br />ATTEST: <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />Christine Lusian, City Clerk Bob Tunheim, Mayor <br />4 <br />