Mayor Roger Reinert Delivers First State of the City Address

DULUTH, Minn. — “So tonight, I am announcing that our 2025 budget will hold property taxes for the city of Duluth flat for the first time since 2014. in over a decade, with the exception. Thank you,” said Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert.

Mayor Reinert, the City of Duluth’s 40th Mayor giving his first State of the City Address Thursday night. One noticeable change for next year is that property taxes for 2025 will not go higher. Mayor Reinert saying it’s time to pump the brakes and have tough conversations within City Hall about what’s really needed and what’s not when it comes to costs.

Mayor Reinert has been in office for just over 100 days. At the State of the City, he wanted to continue following the roadmap he developed during the campaign. He believes the city needs to get back to those core services a city should deliver to its residents. Fox 21 spoke with the Mayor just before he hit the stage. He said he wanted people to leave tonight’s event know he is working to get the city back to basics.

“Streets, utilities, public safety, our parks, our library. What I think I saw last year is that people just aren’t’ there. And that’s what they are really looking for. And when you are doing those things well, they trust you to do some other things,” said Mayor Reinert.

President of Duluth’s City Council, Roz Randorf spoke with Fox 21 just before the program began. She says her constituents are optimistic.

“I’m hearing people want to move the needle, we’ve got issues we want to tackle and are patiently waiting for things to happen,” said Randorf.

The evening kicked off with music from the Denfeld Jazz Band. By the time Mayor Reinert began speaking audience members included city councilors, city administration, staff and supporters. The Mayor wanted to set forth a discussion about where the city is headed and how it would get there under his leadership.

“Housing across all income levels, growing our commercial tax base, streets, downtown Duluth and affordable income taxes,” said Reinert.

Reinert said that Duluth is at a stagnant place and isn’t growing. “The census data is clear, people are coming to our region, they just aren’t coming to Duluth.”

He also set out a challenge for the community to get engaged. “Pick up trash, fix it clean it freshen it up yourself if you are able. Let us know if you can’t. Maybe connect with your neighbors and meet some new ones along the way,” said Reinert.

Reinert says he wants the city population to grow at least 90,000 by 2030 which he says Duluth hasn’t seen since 1980.