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<br /> MINUTES <br /> <br /> CITY COUNCIL <br /> <br /> NOVEMBER 23, 2009 <br /> health insurance renewa] was very favorable for 2010. The Administrator <br /> stated that there is concern that building permit revenues will be flat for <br /> 2010. Blesener stated that the City has to budget very carefully for the <br /> next couple of years. <br /> The Administrator pointed out that the City could use reserve fmids to buy <br /> down the levy, however, these are one-time funds and the impact of the <br /> buy-down would have to be made up in future budgets. The <br /> Administrator pointed out that the City's budgeting history has been for <br /> slow and steady increases, the result of which has been a drop in the City's <br /> ranking from 2"`~ highest municipal tax rate in Ramsey County in 1990 to <br /> 5°i or 6°' lowest out of 19 jurisdictions. <br /> Blesener noted that the result of the City's financial practices is that during <br /> a recent bond sale, its bond rating increased by two levels. Blesener also <br /> noted that reserves allow the City to finance improvements and do some <br /> other things without the need to bond. The practice of slow and steady tax <br /> increase also prevent property owners from seeing big jumps in their City <br /> portion of property taxes. <br /> Blesener and Keis commented that they did not support a gross levy <br /> increase higher than the 3.77% that was achieved by the $38,923 in <br /> additional revenues/expense reductions. The question was whether to <br /> apply the $8,702 in addition reductions to achieve a 3.41 % gross levy <br /> increase. <br /> Keis asked about property owners contesting their property values. The <br /> City Administrator explained the process which included adjustments by <br /> the Ramsey County Assessor as well as petitions to Tax Court. He <br /> indicated that substantial reductions are typically delayed one year so that <br /> cities have time to plan for them so they are built into the tax base versus <br /> having to deal with mid-budget year reductions in revenues. <br /> Blesener noted that the potential for additional LGA unallotments is still a <br /> reality. <br /> The Director indicated that reducing the Gross Levy increase to 3.77% is <br /> about `/z% reduction in a property owners total tax bill. Another %z% <br /> would bring the Gross Levy increase to approximately 2.75%. The <br /> Director noted that this is based on Little Canada being only 19% of a <br /> property owners total tax bill. "the Director indicated that utilizing the <br /> $8,702 will bring the Gross Levy increase to 3.41%, another 0,000 in <br /> reductions brings it to 3.00%, and another $11,900 brings it to 2.50%. <br /> Blesener asked if there were other opportunities for increased revenues or <br /> decreased expenditures. The City Administrator noted that the City could <br /> 3 <br /> <br />