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Mr. Hamilton replied that his market value went up $22,000. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund explained that that is why Mr. Hamilton's taxes went up. <br /> <br />Councihnember Kurak noted that the tax value is done by assessment that is made by Anoka <br />County. <br /> <br />Councihnember Cook noted that part of the problem is that Mr. Hamilton's home sits on a <br />commercial lot. <br /> <br />Mr. Hamilton replied that it is a residential property and has been for 100 years. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kurak explained the reason she previously made the statement that taxes would <br />go down is because taxes cannot go any higher because there is a tax freeze. There is no way for <br />her to know if valuation of a property is going to increase. The school levy has gone down and <br />there is a tax freeze and more people living in the City, which is what she made her statement on. <br /> <br />Financc OFficer Lund replied that that was correct. <br /> <br />Councihnember Elvig noted that his home value went up 8 percent, which is good for him, but <br />his property tax went down $33. The City taxes went down six percent, and the school levy went <br />down 33 pereent. <br /> <br />Vince Brytowski, 16931 Yttrium Street NW, Ramsey, stated that his property tax assessed value <br />went up over l0 percent and his taxes to the City went up over five percent and to him that is <br />disappointing. He stated that if he read the information handed out correctly the City has raised <br />taxes about $330,000. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund explained that the 2004 budget was going up $117,000. <br /> <br />Mr. Brytowski replied that in addition to the $117,000, the City is also getting an additional <br />$400,000 in franchise fees, which is truly just another tax. The City lost about $300,000 in state <br />aid, but they are increasing the amount to $500,000. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund explained that the City actually lost $652,199. <br /> <br />Mr. Brytowski encouraged the City Council to recognize the fact that "the sky did not fall" and <br />to be more prudent with the City's finances. It is not as difficult as it seems to make <br />actjustmcnts. He also cautioned the Council on how they increase fees because they are already <br />paying a lot of money on their utility bills. Another recommendation he wanted to make, which <br />he knew wasn't a decision by the City, was that the tax forms should come out before an election <br />not after an election. He strongly recommended that the City Council talk to whomever <br />necessary to get the information out before election time. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec noted that those are dates that are mandated by the State of Minnesota. <br /> <br />Truth in Taxation/December 1, 2003 <br /> Page 3 of 4 <br /> <br /> <br />