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Mounds View City Council Page Nine ~egular Meeting Auqust 24, 1992 Councilmember Rickaby stated that regarding environmental concerns gas is more environmentally safe that fuel oil and those users are not being taxed. People using natural gas are subsidizing those who are using less environmentally safe ways. This fee taxes those of us who are using better methods of heating environmentally. Rickaby further stated that as far as budget and taxes, that this is nothing more than a tax. Rickaby stated that the people should be taxed and the City should be straight about it. The City is under a crunch, businesses are under a crunch and homeowners are too. Everybody needs an income and has to come up with creative ways to bring money in. Rickaby stated that the City has not finished the budget process but is looking at another source of revenue or tax and then deciding what to spend it on. The City has been frugal in the past because of levy limits. The City now can increase your taxes however much it wants. Mayor Linke stated that the Council sat dawn and figured out the costs of services the City is providing for the last four years. There has been an increase in only one step and that is a police officer which has been needed for the past three years. Mayor Linke stated that perhaps Councilmember Rickaby should have set her priorities and been at the last budget meeting. ouncilmember Rickaby stated that the budget meetings she attended were ~ddressed to "pie in the sky" items. Councilmember Rickaby stated that the meeting had been changed to a night where she had a conflict with the Environmental Quality Task Force Meeting that she needed to attend and that she had set her priorities. Naja Werner stated that she is in agreement with the lady who spoke previously. Increase the property taxes if necessary. Bill Frits commented that the City needs to look where it is going and what it can do about this economic situation that is out of control. The City has to decide whether or not to implement a tax or fee or cut costs. Bill Frits stated that it had been said that the City will receive more money because the churches and school district will pay the franchise fee. Where does the school district get money for franchise fee -- the school district will increase the taxes on NSP and then back to Mounds View. Mayor Linke stated that the City has burdens that it has no control of. The City has not raised services and added only one police officer. Linke stated that property taxes do not give the City the opportunity for control. Councilmember Quick stated that if the money from NSP comes in monthly the State cant get its fingers into it like it can when it is half in July and half in December. This is a continuous form of cash flow and it does buy down the taxes. The state takes away the Local Government Aid. Federal +akes away from state, the county from the city, state from the county and city, city from the city and the city dumps on the residents.