By Mollee Francisco

The Chaska City Council voted unanimously to adopt a maximum tax levy for 2011 identical to that of 2010.

City staff has argued that to provide the same services, Chaska will need to collect the same taxes in 2011 as in 2010. However, home values are down an average of 7.43 percent in Chaska, which will mean that the tax rate will increase.

Among the items included on tonight's Chaska City Council agenda is:

*Maximum tax levy approval

Chaska City Council meetings are held the first, third and fifth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at Chaska City Hall, One City Hall Plaza.

Herald staff is getting ready to send out Election 2010 Q&As to the candidates for Chaska City Council. We'll print them in the Sept. 23 edition of the Herald but first we want to what you would ask the candidates.

Are you interested in their position on raising taxes vs. cutting services? Do you want to know where they stand on downtown revitalization? Are you curious what books they're reading? What issues are most important to you?

We'll take your responses into consideration when we formulate our questionnaire.

By Mollee Francisco

Facing a $500,000-plus deficit for 2011, city staff is hoping to rely on taxes and deferments to balance the budget. The Chaska City Council met in a work session Monday night to review the five-year forecast for the general fund.

Among the items included on tonight's Chaska City Council agenda are:

*Presentation of 2011 prosecution contract

*Bids for West Creek Corporate Center Street

** A work session will be held at 6 p.m. to discuss the five-year general fund budget.

Chaska City Council meetings are held the first, third and fifth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at Chaska City Hall, One City Hall Plaza.

Those interested in running for Chaska City Council or the District 112 school board can begin filing today.

Affidavits of candidacy are now being accepted for council and school board positions. The filing period runs from Aug. 3 through Aug. 17.

On the Chaska City Council, the mayor's seat, a two-year term, as well as the Ward 1 and Ward 3 council positions, both four-year terms, are up for grabs.

Homeowners expecting to see their city taxes go down as their home values continue to fall, may be in for a surprise.

Monday night, the Chaska City Council met in a work session to discuss the city’s five-year forecast, including a proposal to raise taxes.

Market values have dropped an average of 5.5 percent in Chaska, reducing the city’s tax capacity by $300,000 for 2011.

Among the items included on tonight's Chaska City Council agenda are:

*Preliminary plat for Nickel Creek

*Final site/building plans for United Health Group data center

** A work session will be held at 6 p.m.

Chaska City Council meetings are held the first, third and fifth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at Chaska City Hall, One City Hall Plaza.

Among the items included on tonight's Chaska City Council agenda are:

*Public hearing for amendments to capital improvement plan

*Livable communities demonstration account funding

Chaska City Council meetings are held the first, third and fifth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at Chaska City Hall, One City Hall Plaza.

Ward 1 Councilor Gino Businaro has announced his intention to file for re-election to the Chaska City Council in August. Businaro was first elected to the position in 2006.

According to a press release, Businaro stated “Being proud to have worked in government for 30 years, with 15 years directly for cities, and a combined 15 years as an elected official of the City of Chaska and the local School Board, [I am] in a position to contribute greatly to the Chaska community.”