04-11-2013 Charter Packet (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Frequently Asked Questions What are public improvements? Public improvements can include construction of new roads and utilities (sewer and water) and construction of curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Public improvements also include major maintenance programs in existing neighborhoods when areas age and the infrastructure such as streets, sidewalks, sewers and similar public facilities need updating, What are special assessments? Special assessments are an additional tax levied on private property for public improvements that enhance the value of the property. The use of special assessments is an equitable means to finance the improvements while minimizing the demand on the City's property tax levy and statutory debt limitations. Special assessments are even more applicable if new improvements such as sanitary sewer or water are installed. Through special assessments these utility costs are borne solely by the benefited property and not by the community at large. Special Assessments are typically payable over a period of years. The city's current policy provides for special assessments to be collected with your property taxes over a 15 year period. For a complete guide to special assessments go to this link: http://www. linolakes. govoffice2. com/vertical/Sites/%7BA2338809-8316-4E17-A27A- C25E01027DA7%7D/uploads/Special Assessment Guide. pd f What are the procedures for paving for public improvements under Minnesota State Law? There are laws that apply to all Minnesota cities when it comes to special assessments. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 429 gives cities authority to levy special assessments. Most cities follow the process outlined in state law. Some cities use a combination of special assessments and taxes to pay for public improvements, while some cities pay for them entirely through taxes. See Minnesota Statute 429 regarding City's authority to specially assess at: h ttp://www. linolakes. govoffice2. com/vertical/Sites/%78A2338B09-8316-4E17-A27A- C25E01027DA7%7D/uploads/429. pd f How are public improvements paid for in Lino Lakes? New local roads and utilities are paid for by the developer at the time a subdivision is built, and the cost is passed on to the buyer of a lot or home in that subdivision. Reconstruction of aging roads is the City's responsibility. In Lino Lakes, the City Charter supplements state law with additional procedures that include a general referendum if using a combination of special assessments and general fund dollars to fund improvements. According to an analysis by the League of Minnesota Cities, only Lino Lakes has a charter provision that requires a referendum on special assessments. The city has held four referendums to reconstruct certain aging local roads. Three have failed. If a referendum fails, the road cannot be reconstructed. For the complete City Charter go to the link below. Chapter 8 deals with the approval process for public improvements. httn://www.linolakes.Rovofice2.com/vertical/sites)%7BA233BB09-8316-4E17 A27A- C25E01027DA7%7D/uploads/%788A043C80-9FDC-422D-A27E-2786074C2DFE%7D. PDF