NEW ULM – The final 2025 New Ulm budget and property tax levy was formally approved, on Tuesday.

The final budget is $28.02 million with a property tax levy of $10.47 million. This represents a 5.23% increase in the tax levy from 2024.

City Finance Director Nicole Jorgensen said no additional changes were made to the budget and levy since the previous public hearing that impacted the levy.

Jorgensen said the only change made to the budget was the transference of a $120,000 expense for a Broadway Corridor Study. The city initially budgeted $120,000 for the study with the understanding the state was paying another $120,000 for the full study. However, the state deemed the study would cost too much after receiving an estimate and pulled the project from the schedule.

Since the corridor study was not happening in 2025, the city chose to move the $120,000 into the budget for the Street Department’s new storage building. The new building is estimated to cost $200,000. New Ulm originally planned to budget for the new building in 2025 and 2026. However, it was decided by moving the $120,000 from the corridor study into the building fund, the project would be completed quickly and avoid inflation expenses in the new year.

Councilor David Christian made the motion to approve the final budget and tax levy with a second from Councilor Eric Warmka. The motion was unanimously approved.

Councilor Schultz says farewell

Mayor Kathleen Backer presented Councilor Les Schultz with a plaque of appreciation for his 16 years of service. Tuesday was Schultz’s final meeting as a member of the council.

“On behalf of the city of New Ulm I want to thank you for your dedication,” Backer said. “New Ulm is better for it.”

She especially appreciated Schultz for always asking questions to help clarify the issue being discussed.

“I am getting feedback from individuals asking, ‘Who is going to ask the questions if Les isn’t on the council?'”

Schultz said before the meeting, he did the math and learned he had attended around 370 New Ulm city council meetings; worked with 13 different elected council members, and worked with many department heads.

“It’s been a great ride,” Schultz said. “It has been fun, it’s been interesting. I loved working with the constituents in my ward as well as working with the people in the city to move us all forward. We always got along, even if we might have disagreed on some motions, but we voted, moved on and never held a grudge. I really appreciate that. This is such a great group and with Tom [Schmitz] coming on board, I think it is going to keep going well in the future. Thanks to all of you!”