02/25/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Part of doing that is keeping the city's Five -Year Financial Plan updated. In looking back over the past 5 years, the city's tax rate has been steadily decreasing, due to a combination of continued growth and good fiscal stewardship. Even with a decrease in growth of the city's tax base in 2007, the city's share of 2008 property taxes remained under 35% of your property tax dollar, down from 40% in 2002. I am pleased to report that Lino Lakes' tax rate now ranks in the bottom half of Anoka County cities. Looking ahead five years, however, we could see a somewhat different picture. The city's tax base grew by 13% in 2006, but by only 4.8% in 2007. The slowdown in the real estate market and new construction impacts cities as well as private businesses and families. We anticipate the growth rate will be between 2 and 7% over the next five years. This slower growth means the city council must remain especially prudent in its fiscal management. Progress is measured by small steps, as well as big steps. Here is a brief overview of just some of the big and small steps we have made over the past year: Roads and Transportation took top billing in 2007. The City of Lino Lakes, by working in partnership with other public agencies, secured funding for the reconstruction of the bridge at 35W and Lake Drive, and reconstruction and signalization of the interchange area on Lake Drive. The result will be a major traffic and safety improvement and will be complete this summer. Reconstruction of County Road 14 between 35E and 35W continues, and federal funding for the interchange at 35E and County Road 14 has been secured for reconstruction in 2009. Reconstruction of local roads, however, is solely a local responsibility. The Lino Lakes City Charter —which requires voter approval for reconstruction of a local road when benefiting property owners are assessed for any part of it —has resulted in three failed referendums. Older roads continue to be patched and repaired where possible, but a proactive reconstruction program is the most fiscally responsible approach. In 2007, the city council charged a citizen task force to research this issue and report back to the council. The group proposed an amendment to the charter that allows the city to reconstruct streets without a referendum, while still protecting property owners' rights. The recommendations were forwarded to the City Charter Commission, a group of residents who serve as custodians of the city charter. The Charter Commission has reviewed this proposed amendment and has made its own recommendations to the council. The council will have to decide what the best approach is. We are confident that this oversight and concern by both the task force and the charter commission will result in a resolution to this ongoing dilemma. The Lino Lakes Police Department received a national award for outstanding participation in the 2007 National Night Out. A sampling of new programs started by the department in 2007, include: {PAGE }