02/11/1991 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 1 1 252 �~�� AWARDED THE NATIONAL SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE. TUOL__ TWO AWARDS IS ANOTHER REASON WE SHOULD BE PROUD TO LIVE IN LINC_ LAKES. A GROWING CITY IS NOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS.: THE DEMANDS FOR SERVICES CONTINUES AS WE GROW TO A POPULATION OF ARLY 1�,000 PEOPLE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. • THIS GROWTH IS STRAINING DJR PRESENT GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES. A PLAN IS IN PLACE TO TEMPORARILY RELOCATE SOME DEPARTMENTS ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS !_:NTIL ADEQUATE FACILITIES CAN BE BUILT. THE COUNCIL IS IN THE PROCESS OF ANALYZING FUTURE FACILITY NEEDS AND WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS. REDISTRICTING OF LEBISLATIVE BOUNDRIES IS DUE FOR CHANGE THIS YEAR. WHEN THAT TASK IS COMPLETED, THE CITY CAN REDRAW OUR VOTING PRECINCT. LINES AND THEN WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOCATE POLLING PLATES CLOSER TO POPULATION GROUPS. I STONGLY FEEL THE PEOPLE LING ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERY CONSIDERA-ZON WHEN THE NEW LINE ARE DRAWN. MONEY AND TAXES ARE ALWAYS A CONCERN FOR ALL OF US. GOVERNOR CARLSON IS TELLING US THERE IS A SHORTFALL OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1.2 AND 2 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. IN OTHER WORDS THE STATE IS SPENDING MORE THAN THEY ARE T,AING IN. THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES OR [UT FUNDING FOR K-12 EDUCATION. THE TALK IS THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO CUT STATE AIDS TO CITIES BUT THE STATE MAY BE ASKING -�S TO PAY BACK THE AID THEY SENT US EARLIER. AN EXAMPLE OF A BCTCHED MANDATE IS THE TRUTH-IN-TAXATION LAW. THE STATE TOLD US EX+LTLY WHAT AND HOW INFORMATION WAS TO BE STATED, AND EVEN THE SIZE [7 THE AD AND IN WHICH PAPERS. INSTEAD OF INFORMING RESIDENTS OF ACTUAL PROPSED TAXES, THE MANDATED NOTICES WERE CONFUSING AND MISLEADING. THE LEGISLATORS OF THIS STATE MUST STOP MANDATING PROGRAMS THAT COST THE COUNTIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CITIES M[�EY UNLESS THEY ARE WILLING TO FUND THOSE PROGRAM. THIS COUNCIL HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE QUESTIONS WHEN YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE EXPENDED. WITH THE GROWTH WE ARE EXPERIENCING, IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP SPENDING IN LINE WITH REVENUES AND YET PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN THE SERVICES YOU EXPECT FROM THE CITY. OUT OF EVERY PROPERTY TAX DOLLAR YOU PAY, .43 CENTS 2:ES TO THE SCHOOLS, ANOKA COUNTY TAKES ABOUT .29 CENTS; THE '�ATERSHED DISTRICTS GET .05 CENTS; AND THE CITY OF LINO LAKES GETS ONLY 23.46 CENTS. THE NEXT TIME YOU PAY YOUR PROpERTV TAX BILL JUST REMEMBER THE CITY GETS ONLY 1/4 OF IT. WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR NONPROPERTY-TAX SOURCES CT. REVENUE AS A MEANS TO REDUCE YOUR TAXES. I WILL BE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO LOOK AT ALL USER'S FEES AND LICENSE FEES AS A MEANS TO GENERATING REVENUE. AS AN EXAMPLE, THE LARGE REGIONAL PARK LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY PAYS NO TAX TO LINO LAKES YET WE MUST PROVIDE FIRE AND POLICE SERVICES TO THAT AREA. I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THOSE WHO USE SERVICES SHOULD PAY FOR THEM WHETHER IT IS SC`~EONE COMING INTO THE CITY USING OUR STREETS TO GET TO THE GOLF COUSE OR THE BUILDER WHO USES STAFF TIME TO GATHER INFORMATION AND HAVE FORMS COMPLETED.