Oak Grove City Council Work Session meeting, September 8, 2025
Council Work SessionMonday, September 8, 2025
What happened
Council held its third 2026 budget work session, discussed levy and cost-of-living assumptions, several budget/CIP reductions and transfers, timing for a pickup truck and rescue tools, and adjourned at 5:54 PM.
What was on the agenda
2 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
- Discussion only
1DISCUSS 2026 BUDGET
Council held its third 2026 budget work session. Staff reported reductions in CIP and general operating fund, including lowering the levy to 4.95% and analyzing cost-of-living scenarios; the 4.95% levy scenario included a 3.5% cost-of-living increase and the council agreed to 3.5%. Staff and the city’s financial consultant reviewed specific budget changes such as reducing fire acquisition capital to $100,000, transferring $25,000 from the charitable gambling fund, reducing the trail maintenance levy to $51,000, reducing the Comprehensive Plan fund by $10,000 (pushing some costs to 2027), adding $20,000 transfer to the recycling fund due to an additional Anoka County recycling grant, and increasing watershed professional services to $15,000.
Council discussed the CIP items for a 2008 pickup truck and rescue tools, with Council member West asking for more information and suggesting waiting until next year. After discussion with the Public Works Director and Fire Chief, the mayor stated the consensus was to wait, but not to delay replacement until 2027 if the vehicle breaks down; council would consider purchasing earlier if needed.
Mayor Rolf suggested increasing the budget for the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission because it had not changed in a long time. Council member Wylie said he would not favor an increase; Council member West said he would abstain because his wife is on the Parks and Recreation Commission; and Council members Tradewell and Bray Johnson said they favored an increase. The mayor suggested putting an increase into the budget but discussing it more before it is finalized.
During discussion of the Fire Department CIP, the council asked whether $25,000 from the charitable gambling fund could be transferred to the Fire Department budget now or whether it needed to wait until there was a need. The financial consultant stated there was $47,000 in the charitable gambling fund and it could be transferred now.
Work session discussion; no formal motions recorded in minutes.
- 2026 budget
- No action
2ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned; no motion text recorded.
Alternatives considered
Options the council weighed, and what happened to them. The record of the road not taken.
2026 employee cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
adoptedIncrease cost-of-living above 3% (analyzed at 3.5% within the 4.95% levy scenario)
Cost comparison: Minutes state: "The Council requested that staff look at scenarios for the cost of living to be increased above 3%" and that "the 4.95% levy would include a 3.5% cost-of-living increase."
Why: Council agreed to the 3.5% cost-of-living increase.
Raised by The Council
CIP purchase timing for 2008 pickup truck and rescue tools
adoptedWait until next year to make the purchases
Why: Mayor stated consensus was to wait, but not to wait until 2027 if the vehicle breaks down; council would consider earlier purchase if needed.
Raised by Council member West
Planning Commission and Parks & Recreation Commission budget increase
under studyInclude an increase now in the budget but discuss more before finalizing
Why: Mayor suggested putting the increase into the budget, but to discuss the item more before it is finalized; council members expressed differing positions and one potential abstention due to a family connection.
Raised by Mayor Rolf
Timing of transferring charitable gambling funds to Fire Department budget
mentioned onlyTransfer $25,000 now rather than waiting until there is a need
Cost comparison: Fund balance stated as $47,000; question whether to transfer now or wait.
Why: Minutes record discussion and that it could be transferred now, but do not record a decision to do so.
Raised by Mayor Rolf
Sources
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
Agenda
Not in this archive
What was on the agenda.
Packet
Not in this archive
The supporting materials the board reviewed.
The summary on this page is AI-extracted and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording are the official record. What do the trust labels mean?