Setting Preliminary Budget, Levy on Agenda for Apple Valley City Council

The Apple Valley City Council is set to approve a preliminary 2012 budget and tax levy at its Tuesday night meeting (a change from the usually scheduled Thursday night meeting); the city will tweak the draft if necessary and finalize a budget by the end of December.

According to an August report on the preliminary budget, the 2012 total levy amount is about $674,751—or 2.97 percent—less than the 2011 levy.

The preliminary budget shows a 1-percent property tax increase for a median-value home of $197,800; owners of more expensive homes also would pay up to 1.7 percent more.

Owners of a $100,000 home would not pay more property taxes, according to the preliminary figures.

The majority of Apple Valley home values are slated to decrease 3 percent, according to the report.

The state's elimination of the Market Value Homestead Credit should save the city about $261 million, City Administrator Tom Lawell said in August. Legislators with the Homestead Market Value Exclusion, which instead lowers the taxable property value in the community, Lawell said.

The city council heard a budget and levy proposal in August. Members must approve preliminary terms by Sept. 15, according to state law; until the end of December, they can change elements of the budget, but the tax levy is allowed only to go down if it is changed after Sept. 15.

The council will meet in a work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and will convene for a regular meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the .