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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 12181989 Meeting Sheet IIIIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIII IIIIIIII ioism Box: 21 Folder: CC MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1989 Document: CC MINUTES 12181989 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY • BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING December 18, 1989 1 . CALL TO ORDER 2 Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo called the hearing to order at 7:05 p.m. . 3 4 2. ROLL CALL 5 Present Enrooth,_ Makowske, Ranallo 6 Absent : Marks, Sundland 7 Staff Present: City Manager Burt 8 Assistant to the City Manager VanderHeyderi 10 3. PUBLIC HEARING - RE: CERTIFICATION OF THE TAX LEVY -AND THE 1990 BUDGET 11 FOR THE CITY OF ST. ANTHONY 12 13 Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo read the official publication notice. which had 14 appeared in the Minneapolis paper and the St. Anthony Bulletin. He stated 15 that this is the third time a public hearing has been scheduled to discuss 16 certification of the tax levy. The notifications .of the previous hearings 17 contained errors and necessitated rescheduling of the hearing. 18 19 Mayor Pro-tem -Ranallo advised those in attendance that the City Council 20 has held an annual public hearing to review the budget for many years. 21 Because of the requirements of the newly-passed Truth in Taxation law, • 22 the public notification must include the proposed increase/decrease in �3 the budget as well as the anticipated funding from Local Government Aid 24 (LGA) . Also required was a published notification of the public hearing. 25 26 All taxing authorities are required to hold public hearings on their budgets. �7 Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo -stated if all of the business regarding the budget is 28 not completed at this heari.ng, . it would be reconvened on Wednesday, December �9 20th at 7:00 p.m. . 30 31 It was noted that all Councilmembers had received numerous calls regarding 32 the budget. Previously, the Council met with Representative McGuire, the 33 Superintendent of the School District and the School District 's Financial 34 Director to discuss- LGA and the formula for its distribution. 35 36 City Manager Burt reviewed .the proposed budget. The sources of funding for 37 Local Government Aid comes from; sal.es \tax and property tax. This year half 38 of the LGA funds are going to the School District. The City Manager stated 40 that it is the intent of the State to eventually fund the school districts. 41 Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo observed that the LGA has been regularly decreasing 42 over the last few years and the intent of the Legislature is to completely 43 phase it out in the future with the State totally funding schools. 44 45 The .proposed budget is a 3% increase over the 1989 budget. Because of the 46 shift of the LGA to the School District a 31% decrease is anticipated in 47 the District' s budget. 48 49 Councilmember Enrooth observed that the proposed budget's increase of 3% 50 Public Hearing _ December 18, 1989 page 2 • 1 will afford present municipal services to remain at the same level . Without 2 this slight increase consideration would have to be given to cutting services 3 as an alternative to a tax increase. 4 5 The City Manager felt the 3% proposed increase would amount to approximately 6 $33.00 on an average home ($88,000) in the City of St. Anthony, but the 7 School District's portion of taxes should be going down. 8 9 Councilmember Enrooth advised that the homes in. St. Anthony are valued at 10 921% evaluation. He has spent considerable time researching the methods 11 and formula used to value property in the City. City. Manager Burt observed 12 that the City portion of tax per capita is lower than the general average 13 in the metropolitan area. 14 15 Michael Bird, 3416 Edward Street, requested clarification of the use of 16 property taxes. Councilmember Makowske drew a circular diagram on the 17 chalkboard in the Council Chambers. She marked off sections of the diagram 18 proportionate to .the percentage of property tax received by all taxing 19 authorities. Mr. Bird concluded that his concern regarding high property 20 taxes should be directed at the School Board. 21 22 Jack Tvomia, 4013 Shamrock Drive, a twenty-six year resident of the City, • 23 suggested that some ofthe services provided .by the City could be combined 24 with surrounding communities thereby decreasing taxes_. He reviewed records 25 of his property taxes since 1983. They have- increased over fifty percent 26 to date while the value of his property has decreased. 27 28 City Manager Burt inquired if there had been a recent on-site appraisal 29 done of the Tuomie property.and was advised that there had been. Since 30 this had been done it was the opinion of the City Manager that a lower 31 evaluation frequently occurs. 32 33 Mr. Tuomie felt the School District should .consider consolidating with other 34 school districts. He was of the opinion that if municipal services are 35 shared and school districts consolidated a large tax savings would be 36 realized. 37 38 Tom Gould, 3305 29th Avenue, felt to have any impact on taxes, an average 39 citizen would have to attend three public hearings called by various taxing 40 authorities and contact his legislators. 41 42 John Labenski., 2801 West Armour Terrace, commented on resident' s inability 43 to become informed about the proposed budget as it had not .been available. 44 Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo advised that summaries of the proposed budget had been 45 available for some time. City Manager Burt said five residents had come to 46 City Hall to pick up a copy. 47 • 48 Michael Bird stated he is a former public employee. While employed in the 49 public sector, he observed some employees who were not always busy. Mr. Bird 50 Public Hearing December 18, 1989 page 3 1 suggested the Council could review the needs for all of the present staff. 2 Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo responded that the Fire Department is presently 3 operating with a split staff and the number of Public Works employees 4 and police officers is low in comparison to other municipalities. He also 5 mentioned that approximatley $20,000 was saved when the City Council conducted 6 the search for a new City Manager. Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo invited residents 7 to request copies of municipal employee comparisons from staff. 8 9 Richard Schwartz, 3511 Chelmsford Road, stated his, opposition to any tax 10 increase. He felt the City Council is forgetting about the senior citizen 11 population in the City who are on fixed incomes. 12 13 Leif Thorson, 3024 Crestview Drive, is quite impressed with City services. 14 He felt the City's proposed budget increases are acceptable. Mr. Thorson 15 is of the opinion that any other tax concerns/complaints should be directed 16 at the Legislature. 17 18 Discussion .continued regarding the comparison of.-St. Anthony and Mendota 19 Heights in expenditures -and sery-ices. Per capita expenditures in Mendota 20 Heights is $350.00 and is $240.00 in St. Anthony. In reference to shared 21 services, Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo stated his opposition to coordinating fire 22 protection with Northeast Minneapolis or police protection with Hennepin • 23 County. 24 25 Gerry Frisell , 3224 Croft Drive, indicated he had been led to believe that 26 property taxes were going .down. 27 28 John Mondoti , 3420 Highcrest Road , stated that he felt the delivery of 29 emergency services in the City are very good and the snow removal is 30 excellent. He observed that proportionately there is very limited industrial 31 property to be developed nor existing. Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo advised that 32 there are also-many parcels of tax-free property in the City such as parks, 33 churchs, golf courses, etc. . 34 35 Wayne Carlson., 3917 Macalester, inquired how much of the property taxes 36 paid remain with the State. Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo responded that approximately 37 60% of the property .tax paid to the State -by St. Anthony property owners 38 is returned to the City. He noted that additional funds are also received 39 from income tax, sales tax and other sources. 40 - 41 The public hearing was closed at 8:30 p.m. . 42 43 Mayor Pro-tem Ranallo encouraged the residents in attendance at the public 44 hearing to contact Councilmembers or City. staff if they have any questions, 45 concerns, or suggestions regarding the City and its day-to-day operation. 46 He advised the residents that the fire Chief is retiring effective January 47 31 , 1990 and the Police Chief has resigned effective December 19, 1989. 48 He noted that the Council is considering a job description change for that 49 of Fire Chief. 50 Public Hearing December 18, 1989 page 4 1 Councilmember Makowske reminded residents that all dates and times of 2 Council meetings are published and residents are encouraged to attend 3 any of these meetings. She also stated that the City Council reviews 4 each page of the proposed budget very -carefully as well as reviewing 5 the budget with each department head. City Manager Burt noted that a 6 different formula is now being used to compute the Homestead Credit. 7 Homestead Credit is now Transitional Aid. 8 9 4. CERTIFICATION OF TAX LEVY/1990 BUDGET 10 Motion by Makowske, second by Enrooth to approve Resolution 89-032, 11 Certifying the City of St. Anthony tax levy and 1990 budget in compliance 12 with the Truth in Taxation Act. 13 14 Roll call : Enrooth, Makowske, Ranallo - aye 15 Marks, Sundland - absent 16 17 5. SELECT DATE FOR 1990 BOARD OF REVIEW 18 Motion by Ranallo, second by Enrooth to hold the Board of Review on 19 Tuesday, April 1.0, 1990 at 6:30 p.m. . 20 21 Motion carried _unanimously • 22 23 The Council was advised that the Hennepin County bid for assessment services 24 could not be accepted as it was bid on an annual contract basis. The City is 25 reviewed on a quarterly basis. Councilmember Makowske related her observation 26 of an appraiser who recently conducted an on-site appraisal of her home. She 28 felt he was not professional . �9 6. ADJOURNMENT 30 Motion by Enrooth, second by Ranallo to adjourn the hearing at 8:50 p.m. . 31 32 Motion .carried unanimously 33 34 35 Respectfully submitted, 36 37 38 )ncil —Anne -Student - 39 Secretary 40 41 42 43 44 45 4yy4oprotm 46 47 • 48 49 ATTEST: 50 City Clerk