By Steve Morris

The Rush City council approved a 3.4 percent preliminary levy increase for the 2007 fiscal year at its meeting Sept 14.

To residents of Rush City, it means city taxes most likely will not increase this year. The cityís tax capacity went up, which helps offset the levy, city administrator Amy Mell said.

The preliminary levy was set high, Mell said.

ìWe might be able to reduce it,î she said.

The city is waiting to get its health insurance costs and may hire a financial director.

Additionally, certain costs involved in running the library are in question.

Last year, the levy went down less than a percent, Mell said.

The Truth in Taxation meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11 and Dec. 18. The final budget will be approved by the middle of December, Mell said.

In other business:

ï The council appointed Jim Larson to fill the vacant planning commission seat.

ï The council rejected Bauerly Brothers bid for the Rush Landing street improvement project.

It was the only bid the Rush City received and was about $35,000 more than the engineerís original estimate. The council will reconsider the project at a later date and hope to get a better price.

ï The council meet with representatives from the Chisago County Fair Board to discuss a way to monitor how much water is used during the County Fair. The public works superintendent will meet with a fair board member to determine if there is a way to monitor the water usage.