Politics & Government

2013 Proposed Budget, Tax Levy Adopted by Maple Grove City Council

The 2013 budget is proposed to increase by 1.32 percent over the 2012 budget.

As the end of 2012 draws near, planning for the 2013 budget and tax levy has been underway at

Although the Maple Grove City Council agreed to a 1.32 percent budget increase in 2013, taxes are anticipated to decrease slightly for the average Maple Grove home, according to a Sept. 4 memo to the city council.

The Maple Grove City Council adopted the 2013 proposed general fund, road reconstruction, general obligation capital improvement plan budgets and proposed tax levy at its Sept. 4.

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Proposed Budget

The proposed budget of $34,513,600 reflects a small increase over the 2012 budget – 1.32 percent.

Find out what's happening in Maple Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Past history has been that some revenue items can be increased once staff has a clearer picture of the 2012 - development revenue and court fines are two areas,” city staff wrote in a memo to the council.

For a Maple Grove residential home with an average market value of $234,900 as of Jan. 1, 2012, property taxes are estimated to decrease approximately $14.22 a year – or $1.19 a month.

Budget determination was a based on several factors, according to the city, such as:

  • Population growth, currently estimated to put the April 2013 population for Maple Grove at approximately 63,760 – an increase of 1.19 percent from 2012.
  • Slower growth year for new commercial/industrial property
  • Elimination of the Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC) program by the legislature in 2011.
  • The property tax levy “continues to be the main revenue source for funding the daily operations of the city.” Revenue from development “continues to be very good” despite declining activity since the 2007 and 2008 budget.

Among the proposed expenditures includes the elimination of three positions: a special assessment technician, records management clerk and deputy police chief as well as the reduction of a fire secretary position to three quarter time.

“These are three positions that became vacant due to retirement/resignation and due to some re-organization/shifting of duties, we feel the positions can be eliminated,” City Administrator Al Madsen wrote in an email to Patch.

The proposed general fund budget also includes the addition of a police officer in the police department and a facilities technician in the government buildings department.

Proposed Tax Levy

The council also approved at proposed 2013 tax levy of $31,627,600 – a 1.41 percent increase. The levy total includes a general levy, road reconstruction and capital improvement refunding.

The City Council will hold a budget hearing at the Dec. 3, 2012 during the regular city council meeting. It is anticipated the final 2013 budget and levy will be adopted at that time. The city has the ability to reduce the proposed levy, but not increase, at that time.


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