A hearing on the proposed 2013 tax levy and budget for Ranier is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The hearing is scheduled to take place at the Ranier Community Building in Ranier. The regular council meeting is expected to follow the hearing.

An agenda is considered tentative until the government body begins the meeting and makes additions or deletions to the proposed agenda.

The council is expected to adopt the 2013 budget and levy during the regular council meeting.

The council has proposed no increase in the levy over what was collected this year from property owners in the city. The proposed levy is $140,000 for 2013.

In September, the council set its preliminary 2013 tax levy at $150,000 β€” about a 7 percent increase from what was collected from property owners this year.

The preliminary levy must be set in September and finalized in December. The levy can be reduced before December, but may not be increased.

Ranier Mayor Ed Oerichbauer told The Journal in September, even though the council set the levy for $10,000 more than was collected in 2012, he expected when the levy is finalized in December that taxes will not increase.

Oerichbauer said the increased levy should not cause a rise in property taxes in 2013 because the levy will be spread out over more properties as a result of annexation, which brought into the city limits additional residences.

During its regular meeting Monday, the council is expected to amend a sewer ordinance that will increase sewer rates from $7 to $34 for the first 2,000 gallons used per month to each residence in Old Ranier.

According to Oerichbauer, Old Ranier is serviced by North Koochiching Area Sewer District and because of the additions and upgrades to the sewer plant, adjustments for expenditures are necessary to cover costs, which are distributed to customers.

β€œIt’s a big jump,” Oerichbauer said of the increase.

The mayor said because residences in the newly annexed portions of Ranier are serviced by East Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District, it is unknown if rates will increase.

According to the ordinance, each additional 1,000 gallons or any portion of 1,000 gallons used will stay at $2.45.

Employee evaluations and a transportation plan are also on the agenda Monday.

At the end of each regular council meeting, an open forum is scheduled for members of the audience to address the council on any topic they choose.