The Austin City Council will be voting to set the property tax levy for 2020 during its next regular meeting.

The 2020 proposed tax levy is $7,150,000, an increase of $277,000, or 4.03 percent, from 2019. The increase comes from the city planning for the implementation of phase 2 of the Compensation and Classification study, modifications to some departmental budgets and settling bargaining unit contracts that may not be settled by Dec. 31, 2019.

Under Minnesota law, the levy must be submitted to the state by Sept. 30. The council may lower the levy after that date, but may not increase it.

The council will also vote on a proposed 2020 budget during the meeting. The current proposal has the 2020 budget set at $35,913,342. Some of the larger expenses include the General Fund ($18,711,807) and Sewer User Fund ($5,633,162).

The Truth in Taxation hearing, a public hearing in which the budget will be discussed in detail, will be set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

The council’s next regular meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, in the Council Chambers located in the basement of City Hall. The regular work session, which will consist partially of a closed session (not open to the public), will be held immediately following the regular meeting in the conference room across the hall from the Council Chambers.

For a full agenda, visit www.ci.austin.mn.us/city-council.