12/10/1992 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 1 1 1993 GENERAL FUND BUDGET HEARING DECEMBER 10, 1992 will be taking a look at this to determine if they want to invest the time and money to become a Star City. Mr. Schumacher noted that becoming a Star City means that the municipality i`s ready and welcomes economic development and there is a plan and procedure to follow and it is easy to develop in that municipality. Mr. Schumacher said he felt that a city can have the policy and plan and not necessarily be a Star City. Council Member Elliott noted that this year this City was allowed to set the levy where it wanted to because levy limits have been lifted. She noted that because the school districts in the past couple of years have had significant increases no one on the City Council wanted to burden the tax payers with additional spending for needed capital equipment such as squad cars or street equipment. This year the City could "catch up" with a minimal impact on the tax payers because other taxing entities were not planning significant increases. The City has four (4) squad cars with over 100,000 miles on each of them and a 1974 dump truck that is needed for snow plowing and street repair. Replacement of these items is being done in a year that will hurt tax payers the least. Council Member Neal noted that the City Council did look at abolishing the Police Department and contacting with the Sheriff's Department. However, the level of service would greatly be diminished. The City Council also considered contracting snow plowing. This would mean that some streets may not get plowed for a day and a half. Mayor Reinert noted that four (4) council people were involved with elections in the past year. As they were out campaigning, each person heard many inquiries regarding economic development. He felt that Lino Lakes citizens are really interested in encouraging this type of development to relieve the tax burden of homeowners. Council Member Bergeson noted that business property is taxed at a different rate than residential property. He also felt that business development will help relieve the tax burden on the homeowner. Council Member Bergeson said that Mr. Storms may be right in saying that property taxes may never go down in Lino Lakes, however if business development does not occur, property taxes will continue to increase and maybe at an even faster rate. He expressed hope that taxes would be reduced and that this City would drop out of the top 10 list of highest property taxed communities. Council Member Bergeson noted that if this City does not begin to plan for commercial and industrial development, all prime commercial and industrial property will be developed into housing. PAGE 5 9