St. Cloud City Council to Hold Public Hearings on 2025 Budget and CentraCare Expansion Bonds Monday Night

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud City Council has a full plate Monday night, including two public hearings.

The first surrounds the 2025 budget and adopting the final property tax levy. Next year’s budget is a proposed $89,808,200, a $2,027,200 or 2.31% increase from 2024. The proposed levy estimates a flat tax rate. The property tax base is projected to increase by 1.34%, generating $197,800 in funds due to the growth in the tax base. The budget and levy set the spending guidelines for the city’s operations for the year. After it is set, the levy cannot be increased. Before its formal adoption, a final public hearing will be held on December 2nd.

A public hearing will also be held to decide whether to issue up to $332 million in bonds to help finance CentraCare’s expansions at the CentraCare Plaza and CentraCare Sauk Crossing in Sartell, and to get the medical provider a lower interest rate. CentraCare would be responsible for all payments and fees, and the City of St. Cloud wouldn’t be on the hook for any of the finances. The money would be used to refinance existing debt issued in 2014, and fund the expansion projects. The healthcare provider is the city’s largest employer, and St. Cloud officials believe the deal would be a net positive for both sides.

A public hearing is expected to be set for October 7th on forming a business improvement district in downtown St. Cloud. The zone would tax the properties in the district for extra security, downtown clean-up, and information officers.

There is also a packed consent agenda. Items in the consent agenda are considered routine and are generally passed in one motion unless pulled for discussion by a council member. They are prepared to approve making $10.4 million in energy improvements to the Municipal Athletic Complex. The upgrades include adding solar panels, a new refrigeration unit, lighting and electrical upgrades, and sealing windows and walls. In November or December, the city will go out for public bid on a 12,000-square-foot addition to house the new refrigeration unit. It’s estimated to cost around $6.9 million. The changes would save the MAC about $143,000 a year.

The council meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.

___