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Mounds View City Council December 6, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 7 Ken Glidden, 5240 Edgewood, noted he has been a resident of Mounds View for 30 to 35 years. 1 He stated this is his first full year of retirement, and until then he was fully employed. He 2 indicated that during that time he did not have time to watch over what the City Council does, 3 and had to trust them to make good decisions and be responsible with his money. He stated that 4 in his first year of retirement he finally looked at the City’s budget. He indicated that the value 5 of his home went up 15% for 2005, but there were no changes to his home; this is just someone’s 6 estimate of what it is worth. He stated the value to him is no different, and he thinks they should 7 tax him when he sells it. 8 9 Mr. Glidden commented that between 2003, 2004 and 2005 the rate of inflation has been 3%. He 10 stated he will receive a 2.7% increase in his Social Security check. He indicated when you look 11 back over the history of the recent property tax increase they are 30%. He asked how he could 12 afford that on a fixed income. He stated no one can tolerate a 30% increase at the City level and 13 17% increase overall. 14 15 Mayor Linke asked what services Mr. Glidden would like the City to cut. He indicated right now 16 with this budget the City is only trying to maintain the services they currently have. He stated the 17 increase of two police officers was something the citizens of Mounds View voted on and said 18 they wanted. 19 20 Mr. Glidden stated he does not think two police officers accounts for a 30% increase. He 21 indicated they have already established that part of the increase was caused by what the State 22 took away, but the fact remains there is no way he can tolerate a 30% increase. He stated gas is 23 up 30% from a year ago, and medical services are up 30% or more, not to mention the school 24 district is raising their tax portion. He indicated at some point in time these taxes will force him 25 to sell his home. 26 27 Mayor Linke indicated they are all in the same situation. He stated in recent past the City 28 Council has cut services back to the bare bones. He added that part of the increase is the street 29 levy, which is desperately needed to start reconstructing the roads. 30 31 Mr. Glidden asked if new streets are a new thing in Mounds View. 32 33 Mayor Linke stated that unfortunately, yes, they are. Council Member Quick indicated they have 34 been trying to initiate a street plan for the twenty years he has been on the City Council, but they 35 could never get consensus on how to do it. He stated the roads are finally so bad there is no 36 choice, and this Council agreed on a plan. He added that one other thing is the state legislature 37 has changed the way the bills are paid, and single-family residential pays most of the bills now. 38 He stated that multi-family residential and commercial property gets the tax breaks. 39 40 Mr. Glidden stated in spite of that, his point is still that the ongoing increases are out of control. 41 He indicated the City has to push back, and if they need help he is willing to lobby. 42 43 Mayor Linke indicated until the City starts cutting services he does not know what else they can 44 do. 45