Agenda Packets - 2003/02/10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council January 27, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 2 Senator Betzold indicated there is a projected $4.5 billion deficit for the next year’s budget that 1 needs to be resolved. 2 3 Representative Bernardy addressed Council and indicated it is a pleasure to represent Mounds 4 View. She then invited residents to contact her at any time at her home number of 763/571-0015 5 or at the capital or by email at rep.connie.bernardy@house.mn 6 7 Representative Bernardy said she thinks it is important to get public input concerning the 8 proposed changes to the budget and invited residents to attend a DFL House Caucus at Stillwater 9 City Hall on January 29, 2003. 10 11 Representative Bernardy indicated that since the late 1990’s there have been $11 billion in tax 12 cuts, $3 billion being rebates and the other $8 billion being permanent tax cuts to income and 13 property tax. She then said that there is now a deficit and a need to figure out what can be cut 14 while still maintaining services. She further commented that local government aid is proposed to 15 be cut and that would really impact property owners in Mounds View. 16 17 Mayor Linke commented that the City has already set its budget based on promised local 18 government aid amounts and will be half way through the budget year before receiving the 19 payments. He then said that a cut to local government aid would really impact Mounds View. 20 He further commented that it would be much easier if the City budget cycle and the state’s could 21 coincide. 22 23 Mayor Linke commented that it would be preferable if the City, because it is all built out, could 24 use its MSA funding for all roads within the City without penalty and asked the Senator and 25 Representative to consider that request. 26 27 Council Member Stigney asked whether there was any likelihood that the legislature would 28 consider removing the sales tax from cities during this session. 29 30 Senator Betzold explained that the sales tax was added back in 1991/1992 during another deficit 31 year in lieu of cutting local government aid. He then commented that there have been surplus 32 years since then and no one has shown an interest in removing it so it is not likely during a deficit 33 year. 34 35 Mayor Linke recommended educating residents to start a grassroots movement to get that 36 removed when there is a surplus again. 37 38 Council Member Marty said he wanted to let the Representative and Senator know of a couple of 39 issues important to Mounds View. The first is the redevelopment of County Highway 10 and the 40 second is the soundwall in the northeast corner of the City. He then asked for any help they 41 could offer with those two issues. 42 43