(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council Tuesday evening adopted a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that reflects a six and-a-half percent increase in the property tax asking compared with the current budget.
The council took the action following a public hearing that drew no written or oral comments.
The budget was adopted on a four-to-one vote, with councilman Jerry Harbst casting the lone no vote. He says the council should have done more to cut spending.
City Administrator Mark Stevens says the big jump in the property tax asking stems from all the tax increment finance districts that are in place in the city.
When it comes to the city’s debt, the council Tuesday evening adopted a resolution directing Stevens and City Attorney Earl Maahs to prepare a resolution calling for a special election on a proposal to change how proceeds from the Local Option Sales Tax are allocated. If approved, the 60 percent portion the city currently uses for capital projects could be used instead for any general purpose. The other 40 percent used for property tax relief would not be affected.
Stevens says the referendum will likely be held later this spring.
