City levies 11% property tax hike

WINONA, Minn. – Everybody knew that required upgrades to the Winona wastewater plant would be costly. Now we know how much. The City Council unanimously approved a $93 million budget for 2025 that will push local property taxes almost 11%, The budget is $29 million more than this year — $34 million for the swelling cost of the wastewater project. The project has been mandated by the state to address environmentally dangerous phosphorus levels. The budget also covers other maintenance projects that have been deferred, in some cases fir years. Said Council member Jerome Christenson: “The bills are coming due. There are things that can’t be ignored anymore.” The owner of a typical home can expect to pay $761 in property taxes in 2025. The senior-most Council member, George Borzyskowski, cast Winna taxes as a bargain. On a daily basis he noted that personally he pays $3.13 in property taxes. For that, he said: “I get police services, I get fire, I get streets, I get water, sewer, snowplowing, recreation, library.” Even so, the 11% levy increase is the largest in recent history – exceeding a 9.5% hike a year ago. The new budget includes designing a new fire station design and planning City Hall maintenance.

Earlier: City pursues wastewater phosphorous purge

Earlier: 2024 election: Winona City Council