Melrose City Council Holds Tax Levy Flat, Plans $431,000 City Hall HVAC Overhaul

MELROSE — September 20, 2018 — Melrose City Council holds tax levy flat at $1.39 million while confronting $431,000 in deferred city hall maintenance. The council unanimously approved the preliminary 2019 levy — comprising a $950,000 property tax levy and $440,000 in debt service — unchanged from the prior year, with the estimated tax capacity rate projected to drop from 69 percent to roughly 66.99 percent. Mayor Joe Finken presided over a session that also saw the council place a $431,000 phased HVAC replacement project and a separately quoted $79,000 skylight replacement on the city's five-year capital plan, approve a $24,800 ductwork cleaning contract with Dustbusters of Alexandria, and greenlight a $13,975 mill-and-overlay contract for 3rd Avenue Northwest. Volunteer firefighter PERA retirement benefits were raised to $2,200 annually with the fund reporting 107 percent funded status. The council also declared a vacancy after member Josh Schaefer submitted his resignation effective immediately upon relocating outside city limits.