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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 03 December 8, 2003 Page 3 1 Mr. Mornson noted, when looking at a breakdown of the 2004 increase, the majority of the 2 increase ($137.30 or 79.7%)was for the debt issued for a new fire truck, the new public works 3 facility and the new fire station. 4 5 Mr. Mornson noted$7,771,054 in grants had been obtained by the City in the past six years. He 6 indicated the City also applied to the Met Council for a grant to provide an open-space park area 7 at Apache Plaza for$900,000 and for a federal grant of almost$750,000 for possible 8 transportation improvements. He stated the City would have received$9.2 million in grants 9 within the last six years if the applications to the Met Council and the federal grant were 10 successful. 11 12 Mr. Mornson indicated the Kenzie Terrace TIF District was decertified to offset some of the cost 13 of the new facilities. He explained the average cost savings for desertification of the District 14 totaled $65.10 and added$335,500 to St. Anthony's tax capacity, which was reflected on the 15 current Truth-in-Taxation Statements. He added an additional reduction in taxes would appear 16 on the final property tax statements due to the refinancing of the 1993, 1994 and 1995 Road 17 Improvement Bonds,with average savings equal to $38.78. 18 19 Mr. Mornson explained this was the fourth or fifth meeting held by Council regarding the 2004 20 budget and all key executive staff were in attendance and available to answer questions. 21 22 Mr. Mornson recommended Council approve Resolution 03-102 setting the 2004 property tax 23 levy as presented to comply with State law and truth-in-taxation requirements. He noted this 24 included a reduction in the Road Improvement Levy of$112,618. 25 26 Dennis Cavanaugh, 2909 St. Anthony Boulevard,noted he had never enjoyed living in St. 27 Anthony Village more than at present; however, to him property taxes represented cash"I have 28 to come up with." Mr. Cavanaugh listed other taxes, insurances and assessment that also had or 29 would increase,which also represented cash expenses to a homeowner. 30 31 Mr. Cavanaugh indicated he felt `eve have a middle-class squeeze going on." He stated the 32 homeowner needed empathy, as the economy had changed; therefore, a review of what was 33 being paid for services and how the City was paying for them might be needed. He cited a Star 34 Tribune article that indicated St. Anthony Village was"number one"on the property tax list. He 35 noted residents living in Hennepin County were paying a little less. 36 37 Mr. Cavanaugh indicated property tax reform was more bad news for residential owners, as they 38 could not pass increases on to anyone. He noted it had been said government should be made 39 more productive in the same way businesses were and asked how a resident went about 40 obtaining this productivity. He added the Taxpayers League of Minnesota had done more 41 damage than anyone. 42 43 Mr. Cavanaugh stated he could ask the City's department heads many questions about 44 productivity; however,he was not equipped to do so because he"did not have the language." He 45 provided copies of an example of City productivity to Council, which related to the City's fire 46 department and its activities. He indicated there was"quite a vogue"for fees, which meant