Minutes - Council - 11/10/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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less perlg~pit Ms. Le~ cheer f6r Counci~ and thagi iudget is about 3% of the general fund budget which means this City spends for its fire department than any other city. ~e ~tated she sees these answers as scare tactics; it's regressive and she won't onal taxes. ~m~er Hardin stated that to save money, the City is working with a reduced staff h~ put off purchasing needed equipment for the Police and Fire Departments. :ha~if there are some services that the City is providing now that the residents feel City Council/November 10, 1992 Page 6 of 10 He state~_ they can:? ~ithout, please let Council know. Brad Tl~q rud[ 7826 - 161st Avenue N.W., Ramsey - inquired why there was no public hearing ?! garbing the franchise ordinance. City Att~eY', Goodrich stated that a public hearing was not required. Mr. Sc~ ed~ stated in gaining a franchise fee there are choices to be made such as would a fee be la ~se~ed against all utility customers in the community or would there be varying rates of~t' ~es based upon the goal the community wants to reach. He stated that Staff is recomm:~ tdin~ a 3% fee be assessed against residential customers only and 0% against the schools [~ ad ~hurches and 0% against commercial/industrial customers. He stated the commer~ aI/igdustrial properties have paid four to five times more taxes on a parcel as a single fa. iilY~ome has. He stated he doesn't feel that $3.00 a month average charge will negative ~ inl~ act persons buying a house in Ramsey. Mr. Th°~ d i~quired if the 3% would deter businesses from locating in Ramsey. [, Finance ~ ~fieCr Helling stated she doesn't have the value for commercial accounts but if the addition~il dol~ars were added to the property tax, it would be 3.5 times the average home. Mr. Th . cO[mmented it was a coincidence this issue didn't come up until after election. John Lue~a, ~4341 Uranium Street N.W., Ramsey - stated he has no problem with the relationshl p b{ing established between the City and the public utilities and no problem with the tax t6 incflease revenue, but feels it is unfair for the City to say only residents should pick this~u > al~d not businesses, especially since businesses use more utilities. He felt if he has to pa[y a 3~ increase, there is no reason a business should not be made to do the same. If the bu~i ~es~s are also taxed, the percentage of the fee could be lowered. He stated that the busit ise~.~having to pay 4% more in taxes is "State stuff" and the State should have to deal witl hat,and he shouldn't be penalized for that. He added that the City could reduce its park: f i.~_ is looking for somewhere to cut expenses. Police Department, Fire Departrn~, ~t aOd City Staff has to come first, parks can come second. He suggested it is up to the p~ ,dnts.~o find a safe place for their children to play. Parks are an auxiliary service. He added ge i~, in favor of getting new equipment for the Police and Fire Departments. Ms. Dahl~ltreniinquired what amount is projected to be raised with this tax to which Mrs. Helling r~lied a 3% fee on both gas and electricity amounts to about $144,000. Ms. Dah!~en ~nquired what percent of property tax comes back to the City to which Mrs. Helling r~lie~ approximately 16%. Ms. Dahl~en ~ommented that the City will be losing $231,000 in LGA and the difference between ~93!and 1989 is stated. She inquired what the difference is between 1992 and 993.