11-08-2012 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kennedy c H A R T E R E D Offices in Minneapolis Saint Paul St. Cloud 470 U.S. Bank Plaza 200 South Sixth Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 337-9300 telephone (612) 337-9310 fax www.kennedy-graven.com Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer STEPHEN J. BUBUL Direct Dial (612) 337-9228 Email: sbubuh2lkennedv-graven.com July 25, 2012 Mr. Jeff Karlson City Administrator City of Lino Lakes 600 Town Center Parkway Lino Lakes, MN 55014-1182 Re: City Charter Amendment Proposed by Charter Commission Dear Jeff: By email dated January 25, 2012, the Lino Lakes Charter Commission (the "Commission") delivered to the city clerk of the City of Lino Lakes (the "City") a proposal for two amendments to the City Charter. You asked me to review the first of the two amendments, and advise the City Council whether the City is obligated to call an election regarding that amendment. The proposed amendment in full is as follows: Section 7.13. Tax Cap. The City shall be restricted in the amount it can raise taxes each year. The maximum levy shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of Minn. Stat. §§ 275.70 to 275.74 (2010), as modified below. If the state legislature adopts new levy limits, the City shall be restricted to the lesser of the limits imposed under the laws in 2010, and the new limits. The City's levy for the year 2012 shall be used as the starting point for calculating all subsequent levy adjustments. Any unused levy authority from 2012 or prior years may not be used. Levies imposed on a majority of the property owners in the City for a new special district or utility (such as a storm sewer improvement district, storm sewer utility, or lake improvement district) created after 2011 shall be included in the levy limit. These levies will qualify as "special levies" only if a majority of the City's voters specifically vote to authorize the creation of the special district or utility.