The Austin City Council will vote on adopting the tax levy and budget for 2020 during its next regular meeting, the last of 2019.

The city’s 2020 proposed tax levy is $7,150,000, a $277,000, or 4.03 percent, increase from the 2019 tax levy. Proposed expenditures for 2020 are $35,945,802.

The city held its annual Truth in Taxation hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 4. During the hearing, the council unanimously voted in favor of placing the tax levy and budget vote on the next council meeting agenda.

If approved, the city will submit the tax levy and budget to Mower County and the State of Minnesota.

Mower County Administrator Trish Harren will present a plaque to the city for collecting more food per employee than the county during the annual city and county food drive.

Each year, the city and county have a friendly competition to see who can collect the most food per employee. This year, the city raised 9.83 pounds per employee to the county’s 7.98 pounds per employee. All of the food was donated to the Salvation Army’s food shelf.

The city will also recognize the following city employees who retired in 2019:

• Matt Holten – Austin Police Department;
• David Hoversten – City Administration;
• Brian Krueger – Austin Police Department;
• Patty Shatek – Waste Water Treatment Plant; and
• Kim Underwood – Park and Recreation

The council will also appoint Karem Salas Ramirez as the honorary council member for February-April 2020.

There will be no work session following the meeting.

The council’s next regular meeting will be held on Monday, Dec. 16, in the Council Chamber located in the basement of City Hall.

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