September always holds a significant deadline in the City’s budgeting process – By the end of the month we must set the preliminary tax levy, which is the not to exceed number for our General Fund Budget. On September 21, Council and I set the 2027 preliminary levy at $6,211,400. Based on the preliminary levy, the tax impact on Carver’s average valued home (which is now $453,700) would be an increase of $15.83 in City taxes a month ($190 annually), which is a 4.17% increase in the tax rate.

The preliminary 2027 budget includes funding for:

• Community Outreach – Items such as Spring Clean-Up Day, the recreational partnership with the City of Chaska (which allows Carver residents to receive resident rates at the Chaska Community Center, Curling Center and Town Course), organics and yard waste collection events, extra law enforcement coverage for Steamboat Days, a community survey, work to support the 2050 Comprehensive Plan and more. 
• Personnel Costs – Pay increases for all employees, an additional contribution to the fire fighters’ pension and an anticipated increase for health insurance benefits for full-time employees.
• Pavement Management Plan – In the plan’s seventh year, proposed projects include mill and overlay of Overlook Drive and Overlook Lane and reclamation of Ramsey Avenue, Ramsey Bay, Ramsey Court, Bluff Road, and Lylewood Parkway between Lorraine Court and Sunny Ridge Drive.
• Capital Equipment and Improvements – In order to decrease the City’s reliance on debt, we’re saving for future equipment needed in Public Services, the Fire Department, and in City parks, and incorporating a new budget strategy to soften tax impacts connected with a future Public Services building.

What isn’t included is the 2027 budget is money for the Levee Improvement Project. This project will be paid for with $13.3 million in local, state, and federal grants I’ve worked hard to lobby for on behalf of the City of Carver. Construction will start later this fall. 

When talking about the budget and taxes, I always think it’s important to remind residents the City of Carver DOES NOT collect Franchise Fees. Franchise Fees are a method of getting funds from utility companies including cable, electric and natural gas for their ability to use the City’s right-of-way. Utility companies pass along franchise fees to their users (residents and businesses) as part of their monthly bill and the fee is often considered to be another form of taxation. Because there aren’t many other communities who do not have franchise fees (Carver is just one of two in Carver County), comparing our taxes to our neighbors who do use franchise fees as a revenue strategy is not an apples-to-apples comparison. 

The remaining dates and deadlines for the final 2027 Budget are as follows:

• November – Preliminary property tax statements are shared by Carver County. They will include information on your home’s valuation and your proposed tax bill, based off of the Preliminary Levy.
• December 7 – The Truth in Taxation public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. at City Hall during our City Council meeting. Residents are invited to comment on the proposed budget and the City of Carver portion of their property taxes.
• December 21 – City Council will consider adoption of the 2027 Budget and Property Tax Levy during the City Council meeting, which will take place at 7 p.m. at City Hall. 

For additional information on the preliminary 2027 Budget, please check out the Resident’s Budget Guide at cityofcarver.com/277/Residents-Budget-Guide 

Last but not least, this fall we’ll be connecting with the community about space needs in the Public Services Department. Look for our booth at the Fire and Public Services Open House on Tuesday, October 6, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. A guide with project details will be sent to residents later this month, and community listening sessions with the City Council will take place on October 15 and November 9, each at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. To learn more about the project and to share your feedback and perspectives join us at one of the above events or visit CityOfCarver.com/434/Public-Services-Facility-Project 

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about anything that’s going on in our community, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you!

Mayor Courtney Johnson
CJohnson@CityOfCarver.com
Cell: 612.702.7703 

Facebook: CarverMayorCourtney
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