Council approves preliminary levy, Toward Zero Deaths resolution

The Worthington City Council on Monday approved a resolution authorizing the execution a Toward Zero Deaths grant agreement.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, has initiated a Toward Zero Deaths Communities grant process, which runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2026. The grant includes reimbursement funds for officers' overtime during operational waves, with a focus on traffic safety and impaired driving enforcement. The City of Worthington has collaborated with the counties of Jackson, Cottonwood, Nobles and Rock and the City of Mountain Lake as part of this process.

Worthington Police Chief Troy Appel told the council that the Toward Zero Deaths program has been effective in reducing traffic fatalities and also allows for extra patrol. The grant is applied for each year; last year a little more than $50,000 was received.

In another public safety agenda item Monday, council members approved reviewed and updated guidelines for the Worthington Police Department patrol sergeant position. Worthington City Administrator Steve Robinson said Appel will be continuing to work on updating guidelines for positions within the department.

Also Monday, council members approved reapportionments for the Bioscience Drive Utility Project, which was completed in 2017, and the Cherrywood Lane stormwater improvement and paving improvement projects, which were completed in 2023.

Additionally, council members on Monday approved the proposed City of Worthington tax levy for 2026.  

The proposed levy of $9,058,874 represents an operating levy of $8,043,132 and special taxes of $1,015,742. The proposed levy — which is a not-to-an-exceed amount that may be lowered — is a 14.00% increase over the 2025 levy. 

Robinson explained that the city is still waiting to learn of multiple 2026 budget impacts, particularly health insurance costs. He said a 12% health insurance cost increase has been budgeted at this time, adding that the decision was made to recommend a higher preliminary levy amount in order for there to be room to work the percentage number downward. 

Last year, council members approved a preliminary city tax levy of $8,479,206 that represented a 16.85% increase over 2024. They ultimately approved a final tax levy of $7,946,381 for 2025, a 9.51% increase over the previous year.

Also part of Monday's meeting was a resolution approving the Housing and Redevelopment Authority's 2026 proposed levy of $218,000, which is an increase of $7,200 over 2025.

The city council will host a meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 in the City Hall Council Chambers to discuss the final 2026 budget and levy. A Truth in Taxation Hearing will take place at this time, and public input will be taken prior to adoption.

In a separate matter Monday, the council approved the improvement assessment for a street construction project along 27th Street. A public hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 during the regularly scheduled city council meeting.