On December 19, the Blaine City Council adopted the 2023 general fund budget and tax levy and the Economic Development Authority levy and budget. This year Council directed staff to evaluate the budget and service levels for a growing tax base. As a result of that process the adopted 2023 tax levy has a tax rate of 32.369 percent, this is a decrease of 3.506 percent from 2022. The adopted general fund and Economic Development Authority property tax levy decreased $776,900 from the preliminary levies adopted in September. 

The general fund levy provides the funding for core city services with 73 percent of the general fund budget being dedicated to public safety and public works. 

Highlighted changes in the 2023 budget include two additional police officer positions, an additional parks maintenance position, additional funding for roadway median maintenance, and a full-time embedded mental health professional within the Blaine Police Department. 

The Blaine City Council held two public hearings to take resident comments on the proposed tax levy and budget prior to adoption. Additional budget information can be found at BlaineMN.gov/Budget.