Minutes - Council - 12/10/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC HEARING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA The Ramsey City Council conducted a public hearing on Tuesday, December 10, 1991 at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 to hear and adopt the Final 1992 General Fund Budget and Payable 1992 Property Tax Levy. Members Present: Mayor James Gilbertson Councilmember Sheila Beyer Councilmember Richard Cich Councilmember Glen Hardin Councilmember Kenneth Peterson Also Present: City Administrator Ryan Schroeder Finance Officer Sandra Ashley Helling CALL TO ORDER Mayor Gilbertson called the public hearing to order at 7:02 p.m. PRESENTATION Finance Officer Helling read a portion of the Truth in Taxation Law, M.S. 275.065 that specifies the rules for tonight's hearings. She also presented a summary of the City's 1992 budget and levy including the estimated impact to the resident's property taxes payable in 1992. CITIZEN INPUT Vince Brytowski, 16931 Yttrium Street N.W., Ramsey - stated with regard to State Aid cuts - that the previous City Administrator said last year that city and county governments prepare for these decreases and that he had prepared the City for this. He inquired if the decrease is more than what was planned for. City Administrator Schroeder stated that he and Finance Officer Helling have attempted to plan for that decrease as well with things like the equipment replacement fund. Each year money will be set aside for the 10-year life of a truck, for instance, so when a new vehicle is needed, the money is readily available. He added that a city cannot plan entirely for a loss of revenue given that with each new legislative session the rules change. The last legislation stated that 2% of the sales tax was going to be dedicated to cities so we can plan on that until the rules change. Mr. Brytowski commended the City on its budget cuts. He admitted when he first saw a 21.1% increase, he was very upset, but after Mrs. Helling's explanations he realizes the City needs a 4.8% increase. Mrs. Helling stated that 4.8% refers to the total levy and the City is at the levy limit. She stated that as homes are added, that dollar amount is spread out, and the 21.1% figure published does not take growth (households/population) into account and therefore overstates the increase on properties within the City of Ramsey. Mr. Brytowski stated that the City has cut the budget and spending and done all it can to hold the amounts down such as holding off on buying new equipment, etc. He stated he is definitely more Public Hearing/City Council/December 10, 1991 Page 1 of 4