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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2025 VOL. 22 NO. 24 www.readthecitizen.com $1.00
ALDI GROCERY STORE: Officially opens for business PAGE 5
City of Hugo’s tax levy to increase by 5.6% for 2026 BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
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Centerville Lions, Centennial Fire District celebrate the holidays The Centerville Lions and Centennial Fire District will host a holiday event from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park in Centerville. Christmas in the Park will feature horse-drawn carriage rides and photo opportunities with Santa and his elves. Visitors can also bring unwrapped toys and nonperishable food items to donate.
HUGO — Perhaps one of the most surprising stats in the 2026 budget presentation is that the city of Hugo’s taxable market value has increased by 6% from 2025 — and now amounts to $3,118,677,000. In 2025, the city of Hugo lost over $85 million in taxable market value due to decreases in property values and changes in the Homestead Market Value Exclusion Program. City Finance Director Anna Wobse explained that of that 6% increase for 2026, 4% is for existing properties and 2% is from new construction. The city has historically implemented a flat tax rate policy, meaning that the city tax collected increases when property values increase, but decreases when property values decrease. In both 2023 and 2024, the city chose to deviate from that rate to allow for a decrease in the urban tax rate when properties were seeing larger value increases. In 2025, the city reverted to the flat tax rate policy, which it will once again implement for taxes payable 2026. The general fund budget for 2026 has been set at $10,868,790, which represents a $749,500 increase from 2025. Wobse said factors that contributed to the increase included cost-of-living adjustments, salary matrix adjustments/ step increases, inflation, the 2050 Comprehensive Plan update, a new roadway reclamite program and new software that will be needed for the city’s finance/ planning/ building departments. (Reclamite is a maltene-based asphalt rejuvenator that prolongs pavement life.) SEE HUGO BUDGET, PAGE 13
Volunteers kick off Salvation Army Kettle Campaign The sound of a ringing bell and the sight of a red kettle are familiar signs that the holiday season has arrived. Each year, Salvation Army volunteers take to street corners and storefronts to collect donations that support local families in need. “This is something we tend to do every November and December. It’s a great way for us to be out in the community, to be visible. The red kettle is super
iconic, because it’s been around for so long,” said Sophie Crowell, divisional volunteer relations director (Northern Division) for the Salvation Army. She noted that the red kettle is unique to North America, although the Salvation Army is worldwide. The campaign started in San Francisco in 1891 when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee collected coins in a soup kettle to fund a Christmas dinner for the area’s poor. This year, the Red Kettle Campaign will last through Christmas Day. There are 260 locations across the
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north metro that are participating in this year’s campaign. Funds raised during the campaign stay in the local community. Crowell said donations from the campaign goes “under the umbrella of food, shelter and care.” “Whatever someone’s needs are, if they need to visit the food shelf, we’re able to purchase food at an affordable break from our partners so that we can provide as much food to as many households as we can. SEE RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN, PAGE 7
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The Salvation Army will host its Red Kettle Campaign through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
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