09-10-2003 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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access some or all of the funds they currently receive through their own HRA's. Commissioner Reinhardt is concerned her community still would have access to what they do right now if they were not part of the coalition. She believes her communities can make that decision on their own and they have the capacity to run their own HRA levy and spend it the way they want in their own community. She would like to see if there was a way to get through this process and achieve a goal that some of the municipalities have expressed while keeping the rest of the suburban communities whole. As far as some of the smaller communities, although they can't levy, if they levy in suburban Ramsey County, it is a levy in suburban Ramsey County. However, she wonders for some of the smaller cities that do not have the staff to administer, if there was some way to offer assistance for a small administrative fee. If they have their own HRA levy, we would help them administer it. That way you would get to the same goal without causing some issues for the surrounding communities. Commissioner Rettman asked is Commissioner Reinhardt was suggesting 17 or 18 HRA's? Commissioner Reinhardt answered that a lot of HRA's already exist and if there are smaller communities that do not have HRA's and they wanted to have them, there may be some way to help them with the administering. In regard to the Housing Resource Center, Commissioner Reinhardt suggested looking at some creative ways of funding other than a suburban -wide levy. Commissioner Tony Bennett said he would like to see the other communities that are not here take an interest. All the questions need to be on the table and we need to get all the answers. Government today is not individualism. It is time the communities start doing things together. The public wants that, but there needs to be some consolidations and the communities need to do some things that make sense. If that doesn't happen, some of us that are in an elected office are not going to be here. In conclusion, Commissioner Rettman thanked everyone for attending. She told the group this is only the beginning discussion. The County board will meet September 9th to create the maximum tax levy, but that does not mean the discussion is over, that the final decision would be in December. Commissioner Rettman will get back to everyone with any information and comments received. She will also get answers to questions in a written format. She stated that, "These will go to the commissioners first and then to all of the municipalities soy'all can continue the discussion on these matters. I appreciate your comments, interest and time." - 1 3 -