Glen Strandberg
Staff Writer

As 2006 was coming to a close, the city of Columbus set its budget for the new year, adopted the 2007 levy, and also added to its police coverage.

On Dec. 13, city council members followed up on what was discussed during the Truth in Taxation meeting of Dec. 4, which was essentially a follow-up to the annual meeting that was held in August.

The levy is what the property owners have to pay in the form of taxes.

The budget is a guideline for future expenditures.

Prior to the Truth in Taxation meeting, City Council reduced the levy by $69,000 by spending down reserves from the Fire Fund and eliminating sirens, while adding $2000 for city council salaries and another $1000 for dues to the League of Minnesota Cities.

As a result of the changes, the budget decreased from 8.7 percent to 4.87 percent. Proposed taxes decreased from 12.38 percent to 7.97 percent, and the tax rate decreased from 33 percent to 31.5999 percent.

Questions about how to handle or add police coverage continued, but the need to adopt the levy as well as the budget led council members to carrying motions on both matters.

On Dec. 13, the city council approved the levy amount of $1,690,412 and the 2007 budget of $1,892,299.

The council opted to wait on finalizing a new police contract until more information was provided in regards to moving up to seven day service, or simply adding a Code Security Officer. Funds were set aside in order to cover these costs.

At the Dec. 27 council meeting, members spoke with Anoka County Sheriff Bruce Andersohn and eventually voted to approve of the seven day service, eight hours per day, at a total of $247,000, which also includes the CSO Officer.

Mayor Mel Mettler stated that either decision could leave a significant number of residents unhappy.

"I've struggled with this," he said. But the deciding factor for Mettler went back to the summer's annual meeting, where the people who did attend were in favor of more police coverage.

Council member Mark Walsh acknowledged how it is a lot of money, but Columbus is in desperate need of a CSO.

"I do feel this is the right way to go," he said.

The vote was 4-1 to approve with Council member Myron Organ opposed.

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