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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes <br /> December 8, 2003 <br /> Page 3 <br /> Mr. Mornson noted when lookingat a breakdown of the 2004 increase the majority of the <br /> J h' <br /> 2 increase($137.30 or 79.7%)was for the debt issued for a new fire truck, the new public works <br /> 3 facility and the new fire station. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Mr. Mornson noted$7,771,054 in grants had been obtained by the City in the past six years. He <br /> 6 indicated the City also applied to the Met Council for a grant to provide an open-space park area <br /> 7 at Apache Plaza for$900,000 and for a federal grant of almost$750,000 for possible <br /> 8 transportation improvements. He stated the City would have received $9.2 million in grants <br /> 9 within the last six years if the applications to the Met Council and the federal grant were <br /> 10 successful. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Mr. Mornson indicated the Kenzie Terrace TIF District was decertified to offset some of the cost <br /> 13 of the new facilities. He explained the average cost savings for desertification of the District <br /> 14 totaled$65.10 and added $335,500 to St. Anthony's tax capacity, which was reflected on the <br /> 15 current Truth-in-Taxation Statements. He added an additional reduction in taxes would appear <br /> 16 on the final property tax statements due to the refinancing of the 1993, 1994 and 1995 Road <br /> 17 Improvement Bonds, with average savings equal to $38.78. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Mr. Mornson explained this was the fourth or fifth meeting held by Council regarding the 2004 <br /> 20 budget and all key executive staff were in attendance and available to answer questions. <br /> 21 <br /> Mr. Mornson recommended Council approve Resolution 03-102 setting the 2004 property tax <br /> 0 levy as presented to comply with State law and truth-in-taxation requirements. He noted this <br /> 24 included a reduction in the Road Improvement Levy of$112,618. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 Dennis Cavanaugh, 2909 St. Anthony Boulevard, noted he had never enjoyed living in St. <br /> 27 Anthony Village more than at present; however, to him property taxes represented cash"I have <br /> 28 to come up with." Mr. Cavanaugh listed other taxes, insurances and assessment that also had or <br /> 29 would increase, which also represented cash expenses to a homeowner. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Mr. Cavanaugh indicated he felt"we have a middle-class squeeze going on." He stated the <br /> 32 homeowner needed empathy, as the economy had changed; therefore, a review of what was <br /> 33 being paid for services and how the City was paying for them might be needed. He cited a Star <br /> 34 Tribune article that indicated St. Anthony Village was "number one"on the property tax list. He <br /> 35 noted residents living in Hennepin County were paying a little less. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Mr. Cavanaugh indicated property tax reform was more bad news for residential owners, as they <br /> 38 could not pass increases on to anyone. He noted it had been said government should be made <br /> 39 more productive in the same way businesses were and asked how a resident went about <br /> 40 obtaining this productivity. He added the Taxpayers League of Minnesota had done more <br /> 41 damage than anyone. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Mr. Cavanaugh stated he could ask the City's department heads many questions about <br /> productivity; however, he was not equipped to do so because he"did not have the language." He <br /> provided copies of an example of City productivity to Council, which related to the City's fire <br /> 46 department and its activities. He indicated there was"quite a vogue" for fees, which meant <br />