Minutes - 2001/12/10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council December 10, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 28 • • • conferences and noted the Mayor just returned from his second national convention of the year because the City has no policy on it. Acting Mayor Stigney indicated that it is interesting to note that in the previous year the City went from $17,236 in 1999 to 2000 and when levy limits went away the City went to $420,895 in 2000 to 2001. He indicated that it is interesting to note that intergovernmental fees actually increased by $67,000 and there was still a maximum rate of 25% increase in the property tax levy. He further indicated that the City is using the maximum allowable levy and he does not feel that Council is doing enough to lower it. Council Member Quick asked what the budget started at when it was first presented. City Administrator Miller indicated the budget was $438,000 more than what is currently before Council. Council Member Quick indicated that $438,000 was cut from the first proposal and said he feels Council is doing a good job of keeping costs down and services up. He then indicated that the City could cut out services to save money but said he did not think that would be appropriate and residents would be calling to complain about not receiving services they are accustomed to receiving. He further commented that he feels the residents are getting a good deal for the amount they are taxed and told Council Member Stigney that if it is such a burden to live in Mounds View he should put up a for sale sign and move out. Acting Mayor Stigney clarified that he feels the City is using increased revenue from the state from last year as a baseline for this year to force the taxpayers to pay the maximum the state will allow. He then commented that he would move at his own discretion. Council Member Quick indicated that if he had as many problems with the way the City was run as Council Member Stigney did he would move out of the City. Acting Mayor Stigney commented that he wished Council Member Quick would move out of the City. The other Council Members in attendance asked that the conversation move on. Council Member Marty indicated he wanted to point out that last year the main expenses or expenditures were the hiring of two additional police officers and noted that residents had said that is what they wanted. Council Member Marty commented that the City did not approve keeping the taxes high as the norm but stated it is a product of the fact that the City did not get the state funding it was accustomed to receiving due to changes made by the governor. He then commented that other cities are doing the same thing.