By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills tax levy will increase in 2025, but when compared to neighboring communities, property owners within the city’s limits can breathe a sigh of relief.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the NY Mills City Council approved a 3.66 percent increase in its 2025 tax levy over the 2024 amount. That comes on the heels of a 7.12 percent increase in is tax levy in 2024 and will result in approximately $23,000 in additional revenue coming into the city through property taxes.

The 3.66 percent levy increase is one of the lower tax levy increases that was presented by city clerk Julie Roberts last week. The only two cities in Otter Tail County that have a lower proposed tax levy increase for next year are in Erhard and Vining, which are proposing a zero percent increases. Meanwhile, Bluffton is proposing a 5.63 percent tax levy increase, Perham’s is set to increase 10.10 percent, Deer Creek’s is set to increase 4.85 percent and Henning’s is increasing 20 percent in 2025. 

The total tax levy that will be received by the city will be $651,338 next year. 

In other news

• Called for a public hearing regarding a tax rebate program for new single-family housing. The program will be similar to the Big Build that Otter Tail County sponsored, with the partnership of local cities, but would transition to the cities taking the lead with the program if they want to continue, instead of the county. The program offers tax rebates on the increase in city and potentially county portion of taxes when a new home is constructed/ 

• Approved decertifying the Countryview TIF District. The area had previously been placed in a TIF District, which provided a discount to help purchase the lots at a cheaper price. By taking the property out of the TIF District the city can negotiate the sale of lots more easily, while also allowing property owners to apply for the city’s tax rebate program. 

• Heard the city received a $20,000 hazardous mitigation project assistance program grant from the county to help fund the purchase of a warning siren that will be placed in the Hidden Trails Park. With the grant the city will need to contribute approximately $16,000 to put towards the purchase of a new warning siren that could be used for emergencies and inclement weather.

• Approved a resolution to acknowledge city council’s support for the county’s CDA grant for the NY Mills Downtown Revitalization Grant fund application. The grant funds fix up projects within the downtown business district and has been intended for exterior needs. 

• Heard the monthly liquor store report that showed combined gross sales for the month were up eight percent from last year, but year to date net revenue is down 5.78 percent as a percentage of sales from last year. For the year the off-sale has lost $6,768 and the on sale has made $33,417 prior to transfers. 

• Heard the monthly call report from the NY Mills Police Department, which showed 109 calls for service, four citations, 40 parking citations, 28 warnings and two arrests were made in November. 

• Heard the public works department monthly report that showed the public works department has serviced all of its equipment for the winter months and a new Ventrac tractor and winter attachments will be delivered in mid-January. This will replace the city’s 2009 Toro unit with MB broom. The city also heard the controller for the City Center elevator is obsolete and there will be no parts available to make repairs if/when needed. The council also heard there are changes coming to the state elevator code in 2026 that will result in work on the elevator to make it compliant with the new state standards.