West metro news briefs: Hennepin County truth-in-taxation hearing set for Nov. 28

Hennepin County taxpayers will get a chance to weigh in Tuesday on the county's proposed 2018 budget and tax levy at the annual truth-in-taxation hearing.

The hearing, conducted by the County Board, is required by the state to provide taxpayers with information and the opportunity to speak on the proposed budget and levy before both are approved.

The hearing begins at 6 p.m. in the County Board Room, on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. 6th St., Minneapolis.

County officials have proposed a budget for next year of $2.4 billion, about $280 million more than this year's spending plan. It would be partly financed by the property tax levy, proposed to rise next year to nearly $797 million. That's an increase of $37.6 million over this year's levy, or a hike of 4.95 percent.

Total individual tax bills also depend on the amount levied by cities and school districts, as well as property assessments and tax rates.

Hennepin County Administrator David Hough, in presenting his recommended budget to the board in September, said that it reflected several significant and ongoing challenges. He said that the county next year expects to lose nearly $60 million in state and federal funding, and also noted that most of the levy increase was due to higher salaries and benefits for county employees.

County commissioners will offer their budget amendments at meetings on Thursday (9-11:30 a.m.) and Dec. 6 (1-4 p.m.). The board is scheduled to approve the budget and tax levy at its regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 12.

Bloomington City Council Member Jon Oleson, who narrowly lost re-election this month, has filed a recount request with the city clerk's office.

The recount will begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 29 in council chambers and is open to the public. It will decide whether Oleson will remain in the seat representing the city's East Side or reaffirm the election of Patrick Martin.

Martin, the corporate development officer at the Children's Cancer Research Fund in Minneapolis, was elected to the seat with 891 votes over the 885 votes for Oleson. The six-vote difference is a margin close enough to provide a recount at no cost to the candidates.

There are seven precincts in the district that will be counted. Oleson and Martin may be represented by attorneys during the recount.

The City Council canvassed the election results earlier this month. Newly elected Council Member Shawn Nelson was appointed to his seat Monday.

The St. Louis Park City Council, which raised the tobacco sales age to 21 earlier this year, will likely ban the sale of flavored tobacco products at its Dec. 4 meeting.

The council unanimously approved the first reading of the amendment to its tobacco policy after a public hearing Monday. A second reading is necessary before the new law is passed.

Flavored tobacco products, which include cigars, chews, blunt wraps and e-cigarettes, are used most commonly by youth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. St. Louis Park's ban, however, exempts certain flavors.

"Menthol, mint and wintergreen would be exempt from the list of prohibited flavors, as they have been in regular use for many decades and are not directly marketed to youth," a city document reads.

The ban, which extends across the city, would go into effect May 1.

Hennepin County is seeking volunteers to fill 24 positions on citizen advisory boards, commissions, councils and special task forces.

The following boards have vacancies, as indicated:

• Adult Mental Health Advisory Council (5);

• Capital Budgeting Task Force (2);

• Minneapolis Planning Commission (1);

• Human Resources Board (2);

• Library Board (3);

• Lower Minnesota Watershed District Board (1);

• Mental Commitment Attorney Panel Advisory Board (2);

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Board (7).