Burlingame City Council
City raises mill levy
1% tax added to Nov. ballot

BURLINGAME—The Burlingame City Council met Monday evening, approving amendments to phase two of the water project, placing a sales tax question on the general election ballot, and raising the city’s mill levy.

The mill levy increase passed by a 3-2 vote, with council members Kevin Fry, Dustin Swander and Carolyn Strohm approving the 2.657 mill raise – Norman Bloomquist and Vikki Demars opposed. The increase from 34.984 to 37.641 raises approximately $31,800 to cover an increase in general operating expenses of the city. It is the city’s first increase in the last few years.

Burlingame visitors and residents may also see increased taxes in the form of a one percent sales tax. Council members passed Resolution 307, which places the sales tax question on the Nov. 4 ballot, as required by state law.

The tax would be used to pay for infrastructure improvements in the city, such as streets, curbing and sidewalks. Burlingame is the only city in the county without a retail tax. The motion to the additions to rural development passed 4-1, with Bloomquist dissenting.

In the extended progress of phase two of the water project, the council unanimously approved the addition of several items to the project. Added items helped take advantage of a 50-50 matching $400,000 community block development grant, which wasn’t fully utilized by the projects initial budget of $705,000.

New additions included several more hydrants, water loops, telemetry software and a chlorinator for the water tower.

After extended discussion, the council tabled the abatement of Schuyler Museum utilities, citing the need for time to research the actual running cost of the facility.

The city approved covering running costs for the museum at no more than $12,000 per year, and extended the abatement for five years in 2003. Over the last seven years, the museum has come in under budget, ranging from $471 in 2001 to $8,128 in 2006. The museum’s cost so far this year is $4,819.17. The current abatement expires in September.

The city also approved the purchase of a public address system to be used at council meeting for audience and council members. A Yamaha Stagepas 300 was purchased for $450.

The next meeting of the Burlingame council will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 11.