Sauk Rapids Officials Propose Smaller Budget for 2013

SAUK RAPIDS - The city of Sauk Rapids is expected to lower their budget next year.  The city council will hear the proposal for the preliminary budget tonight (Monday).

City staff are recommending an overall budget of $4.7 million, down from the $4.8 million for this year's budget.  That's a decrease of 1.7%.  The budget is lower because the city will be spending less on street improvement projects.

The tax levy would decrease by 3.4%, or about $144,000.  Finance Director Jack Kahlhamer says the city is projected to lose about 7% of tax capacity, due to the lower value of the homes in the city.