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CITY COUNCIL <br /> PUBLIC HEARING <br />CITY OF RAMSEY <br />ANOKA COUNTY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br /> <br />The Ramsey City Council conducted a public hearing on Tuesday, November 20, 1990 at the <br />Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard Northwest, Ramsey, Minnesota regarding <br />the proposed 1991 General Fund Budget and Payable 1991 Property Tax Levy. <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Mayor Gary Reimann <br />Councilmember Richard Cich <br />Councilmember Stephen F. DeLuca <br />Councilmember Alan Pearson <br />Councilmember Kenneth Peterson <br /> <br />Also Present: <br /> <br />City Administrator David Hartley <br />Finance Officer Sandra Ashley <br /> <br />CALL TO ORDER <br /> <br />Mayor Reimann called the public hearing to order at 7:03 p.m. <br /> <br />PRESENTATION <br /> <br />City Administrator David Hartley was present and stated that the purpose of this public hearing is <br />to review the Proposed 1991 General Fund Budget and Payable 1991 Property Tax Levy in <br />conformance with the State law. Property taxes are comprised of a number of divisions: City, <br />County, School District and Regional Special Districts. Changes in property value are impacted by <br />a number of things such as spending for services, laws affecting property values, distribution of <br />taxes, local government funding, home improvements, changes in the housing market and property <br />classifications (homestead, commercial, industrial, agricultural). Local government aid received <br />from the State of Minnesota was increased in 1989 to a level comparable to other cities our size, <br />then in 1990 and for 1991 local government aid reverted back to 1986 levels, placing more of a <br />burden on the community as a whole. To answer the question "What justifies your taxes?", we <br />need to compare our tax rate with other communities and services received. Ramsey's tax rate is <br />slightly below the average rate in Anoka County. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Sandra Ashley stated that the property taxes received make up 48.5% of the City's <br />revenue income. Within the Proposed 1991 General Fund Budget, the revenue reduction of <br />$31,627 for Intergovernmental - State is primarily due to the reduction of local government aid. <br />Expenditure reductions are a result of eliminating excess liability insurance although there has been <br />an increase in staffing. The reduction of public safety costs is the result of discontinuing contract <br />fire protection services. A new position in the Public Works Department increased expenditures <br />for that department. Additional time and labor for the parks has generated an increase under the <br />heading of Culture and Recreation as well as items required for the City parks in the amount of <br />$10,000. Additional staff time and the cost of trees for distribution to residents for Arbor Events <br />increased the costs for Conservation of natural resources. There is a large decrease under the <br />heading of Capital Outlay; this is due to the fact that Engineering Department start-up costs were a <br />one-time cost for the year 1990. Reserve expenditure increase is caused primarily by legal fees for <br />litigation regarding the adult bookstore and insurance uncertainties. <br /> <br />City Council Public Hearing / November 20, 1990 <br /> Page 1 of 4 <br /> <br /> <br />