Agenda Packets - 1989/05/08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ADMINISPRATIVE NEWSLETTER PAGE TWO F 1 MAY 8, 1989 1990. The Senate Bill. also calls for a substantial reduction in the population or household adjustments that have been allowed for community growth in past years. This Senate Bill would reduce the amount of the adjustment to 1/3 and the House Bill would allow increases only for population and not for household growth. Since inflation is at a current rate of between 6 and 7 percent annualized, a 3i levy limit on cities would put us in the awkward position of having most of our expenses rising at a faster rate than our revenues. Although we should continue to encourage the legislature to provide for increases in Local government aid, which would provide additional property tax relief, we need to point out to the legislature that the 38 levy limit will have a negative impact upon the ability of cities to continue to provide services at current levels in view of the inflationary spiral we are all facing at this time. Attached for your information is an Action Alert from the League of Minnesota Cities which outlines, in a little more detail, the provisions of the House and Senate Bills as proposed during the week, of April 24th. I would encourage you, if the opportunity presents itself, let our legislators know of any concerns you might have regarding these tax bills after reading this information. MOUNDS ViE'R LIBRARY APPROVAL The Ramsey County Board at their meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 2nd approved the issuance of $15,000,000 in bonds for the construction of new branch libraries in Mounds View, Shoreview and Maplewood as well as an addition to the Roseville Library. The bonds are to be sold on June 13 and assume a successful sale the Kraus Anderson land will be purchased as the location for the Mounds View branch library. Norm Vinnes, Director of the Ramsey County Library System, has advised me that plans are to begin construction in the fall of 1989 with opening of the Mounds View Branch Library in 1990. Z development that is occurring at this time that may place an unfortunate twist on the library situation is that the legislature is considering a tax bill which would include the levy for library operations under the county's levy limits with the 3% cap. In the past, library operation levies have been a special levy not subject to any caps. Mr. Vinnes has indicated to me that the Ramsey County Library System would be able to operate with no difficulty through 1990, however, in 1991 significant operation reductions or the closing of a library would be necessitated `. because of the substantial reductions in operating funds at the time that new libraries are opening up.