HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_02Dec9City of Falcon Heights
City Council Minutes
Truth in Taxation Meeting
December 9, 2002
Mayor Gehrz opened the meeting at 7 p.m.
PRESENT: Gehrz, Lamb, Lindstrom, Talbot. Also present was Heather Worthington,
City Administrator and Pat Phillips, Deputy Clerk
ABSENT: Kuettel
Mayor Gehrz said the process this evening will be an informational presentation given by Heather Worthington, City Administrator on how the 2003 budget was arrived at and how we compare
with neighboring cities. After that, questions/comments will be taken from residents in attendance. Following that, council will be asked to consider and adopt two resolutions; the
first, adopting the property tax levy, and the second, adopting the 2003 budget. Gehrz turned the meeting over to Administrator Worthington
Administrator Worthington thanked Roland Olson, the city’s finance director, for his hard work
in assembling the 2003 budget. Worthington explained the goals of the city and how the budget
is prepared with those goals in mind. Worthington talked about the county’s tax statement that
was mailed to each resident and said the city’s portion of that statement is the only part that
would be discussed. Worthington went on to say that at a recent budget workshop,
council cut the levy increase in half from 5.3% to 2.6% increase over last year. Worthington also went on to say there is a strong chance the city will lose its Local Government Aid
next year and
if it does, the city has a contingency plan budget for that eventuality. Worthington said council
is being asked to approve the 2.6% levy increase and a property tax levy of $874,338 as well as
adopting the General Operating Budget in the amount of $1,383,971. After some questions were answered by Administrator Worthington to council, Mayor Gehrz opened the public hearing
at 7:35 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING
The first person to address council with a comment was Floyd Bedbury, 1432 W. California.
He said he is upset with the county’s assessment of homes and the valuation increases each
year. He would not be upset with a cost of living increase for real estate taxes but the $15,000 increase in valuation each year is a bit excessive. He thinks seniors and others who
live on fixed incomes will not be able to afford to maintain their homes thereby causing a blight situation down the road.
The second person to come forward was Jim DeLeo, 1365 W. Idaho. He questioned why the
“taxable value in every city in Ramsey County that was listed in the packet of information all had a 10% increase” and secondly, asked about “mayor and council inputs to any possible
action
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Council Minutes
December 9, 2002
taken in terms of intergovernmental revenue and how much input do we as a city get in that process and how active does the city government have to be prior to budget decisions getting
made in the new administration.”
The third person with a question was Bill Conroy, 1358 W. California, who asked if “Local Government Aid gets cut by the state, what are the contingencies?”. He also asked “why the
tree trimming budget is noted as being down by 30% next year?”.
Mayor Gehrz closed the Public Hearing at 7:50 p.m.
POLICY
Consideration of Resolution 02-24 adopting the 2003 property tax levy of $874,338
Councilmember Talbot made a motion to approve resolution 02-24 adopting the 2003 property tax levy of $874,338. The motion passed unanimously.
Consideration of Resolution 02-23 adopting the 2003 budget
Councilmember Lindstrom made a motion to approve resolution 02-23 adopting the 2003 budget in the amount of $1,383,971. The motion passed unanimously.
Appointment of Deputy Clerk
Administrator Worthington explained that due to the retirement of the city’s deputy clerk, interviews of three candidates were held and the person recommended for the position of deputy
clerk is Mary Shea Kodluboy. Worthington said she has excellent qualifications having had
15 years experience with the City of Mahtomedi. Worthington said Kodluboy is available to start on December 30, 2002. Councilmember Lamb made a motion to approve the appointment of
Mary Shea Kodluboy. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Phillips
Deputy Clerk