BlaineMN.gov
CityConnect January/February 2025
What’s Inside
Department Spotlight: Public Works Water Division..............................3
Get to Know Chris Ford New Ward 1 Councilmember.............................5
Area Heroes Making a Difference First Responders Take Kids on Holiday Shopping Spree
2025 Community Garden Information.................................................................8
The 15th annual Heroes and Helpers event, organized by the Blaine Police Department, took a record number of area kids on a holiday shopping spree. The Police Department partners with local schools to take children who could use a little extra cheer on a gift buying experience at Target. The kids come with a list and through generous donors they each receive a $200 gift card to buy presents for their entire family. Many kids also come with lists of household necessities; those are taken care of as well thanks to the event sponsors. This year 70 children were selected to participate. Each child is paired up with a local first responder. They pick up the kids from school, shop with them at Target, wrap the presents together, and then bring the kids home. This great community outreach event puts a smile on the faces of everyone involved. View the photo recap from this event at BlaineMN.gov/HHPhotos2025.
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City Council Approves 2025 Tax Levy and Budget
City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine MN 55449
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Council Reduces Levy at Final Approval On December 16 the City Council approved the 2025 tax levy and associated city budgets. In September the council approved a preliminary levy that was used by Anoka County to generate property tax statements. After the preliminary levy adoption, the total amount can only be lowered. The final levy approved was nearly $913,000 lower than the preliminary levy. This will result in property owners in Blaine seeing their tax bill reduced from the original statement sent by Anoka County. Approximately 70 percent of the City’s general fund budget is dedicated to Police, Fire, and Public Works. The 2025 budget includes two additional police officer positions and includes a forester position in Public Works. The 2025 approved budget takes steps to reduce the City’s debt and interest costs by funding some capital projects upfront instead of taking on additional debt that costs taxpayers more in the future. Reductions in the budget were accomplished through holding current vacant staff positions open and reducing capital equipment purchases. In an effort to further reduce future tax levy increases the City Council will begin exploring additional revenue sources in early 2025. All of Blaine’s peer cities have at least one additional major revenue source while Blaine relies only on the property tax levy. The 2025 budget will be added to the city budget webpage in early 2025. Learn more about city budgets and the budget process at BlaineMN.gov/Budget.