Farmington lowers city tax levy for 2024

By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post

FARMINGTON – The Farmington City Council on Monday approved a 2024-25 tax levy that is $26,000 lower than last year.

“At this point, we feel the city is operating within its constraints and we would like to give as much relief as we can,” Mayor Kenn Stufflebeam said.

The city’s total levy is $323,580, with $2.772 million coming from other sources to fund the entire budget of $3.096 million.

The council also passed an amended budget for Fiscal Year 2024 after learning that it had not allocated enough money for workers’ compensation and liability insurance in the budget it passed earlier this year.
The board also approved two CEDC recommendations for TIF grants: $2,500 to Mark Gilstrap for a window-replacement project and $5,317.50 to the Farmington Moose Lodge for a new front door.

Dan Kiesewetter of Kiesewetter Insurance Agency discussed the city insurance policy, which increased by 3.5%. Kiesewetter said that is far lower than most commercial policies, which he said have increased by an average of 10-15%. Farmington benefited from a 12% reduction it its workmers’ compensation policy, Kiesetter said.

The council also started preliminary discussion of a possible city ordinance that would require permits for residents who install solar panels. The subject will be revisited at the next council meeting. Stufflebeam said one reason for permitting is to be able to share the location of solar panels with firefighters in case of a fire.