SLEEPY EYE – Sleepy Eye City Manager Bob Elston reviewed the 2025 city budget with the city council Tuesday.

“I think what we’ve got is about as low as we’ll go,” said Elston regarding a $1.8 million 2025 tax levy that is 7.58% ($128,425) more than the 2024 tax levy.

“I think a 7.58% increase is pretty reasonable in light of today’s finances,” said Sleepy Eye Mayor Wayne Pelzel.

Local Government Aid (LGA) and other state aid accounts for $2,047,000 of the general fund. Licenses and permits account for $775,100; franchise and camping fees, refunds and transfers total $559,300 and investment earnings contributed $175,000. 

General fund expenses are $4,123,300; a $41,650 increase from 2024.

The city council will vote on a preliminary 2025 budget on Sept. 10. The final budget is set to be approved in December.

Brown County Commissioner Brian Braun updated the city council on county business including a plea from Brown County Public Health for parents to ensure families are up to date with measles vaccinations. He said new, updated COVID-19 vaccines are planned to be available this fall.

Braun said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon told residents at the New Ulm Public Library last week that Minnesota voters have the highest percentage of voter turnout in the United States for three of the past four years.

He talked about other Minnesota voting laws that allow voter registration on election day, online and voting from home. 

Braun said 55,000 Minnesota felons who paid their debit to society legally voted last year.

He said the Brown Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has available funds for farmers to plant cover crops to help build and maintain better soil composition.

The city council unanimously approved donations of $357.14 from Central Region Cooperative and Land O’Lakes Foundation to Sleepy Eye Ambulance, $100 from the Sandy Anderson family for Sleepy Eye Ambulance and $250 from Duncan McGregor to the Dyckman Library, motion by councilor Gary Windschitl, seconded by Doug Pelzel.