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I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />! <br />i <br />! <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Commissioner Cox stated that if the people of Minnesota were taxed up front <br />rather than sneaking it through the businessman or some other deceptive <br />policy, there would be a rebellion. It isn't the cost o~goods any more, it <br />is the cost of government. <br /> <br />Mr. Barton stated that an advantage of the program proposed by the Metro Council <br />is that it does n6t burden business individuals with paperwork and frees the <br />individual of having to lobby with bankers and the Small Business Administration. <br /> <br />Commissioner COx stated that it doesn't do any good to get the money for your <br />business if you can't affort to have it. <br /> <br />Commissioner Fults stated that a major part of business development is ti~ing. <br />Necessary government approvals and red tape slow up the process and in the <br />meantime cash and economic development are lost. <br /> <br />Mr. Barton replied that if the success of a business was dependent on timing, <br />'then it would ~robably have gone bankrupt anyway; but agreed that hoops a <br />'businessman must go through do need work. <br /> <br />Mr. Schnelle stated that the State building code should be adjusted in order <br />to make Metro communities competitive with out-of-the Metro area communities. <br />He also noted that local government has to clean up their zoning ordinances. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cox stated that it took years of planning to get this City to <br />where it is and. when' something comes up that does not tickle the fancy of <br />newer community members they want to change everything and this costs money <br />and they are milking the businessman dry. <br /> <br />Mr. Barton stated that with regard to the second sewer connection, if nothing <br />happens in Ramsey, it will go to another community. <br /> <br />Chairman Greenberg stated that the number one problem as far as industrial <br />growth is taxes. One of the reasons Ramsey lost Dickenson Lines is because <br />of tax increment financing, which is not'available in ~msey but is available <br />in Princeton. Chairman Greenberg requested more information on the Industrial <br />R~venue Bonding program. <br /> <br />Mr. Barton replied that the Industrial Revenue Bonding program would set up <br />a pool of money to supplement the 503 program. Between the two programs <br />there would be a lot more flexibility and it would get the bankers off the <br />hook. <br /> <br />Commissioner Fults stated that Ramsey is trying to sell stock in the Local <br />Development Corporation and the feeling of the businessmen is that the <br />citizens are against them and that they prefer to stay a bedroom COmmunity. <br />The direction received from the businessmen is that when Ramsey gets their <br />act together and does something about taxes, they they will start to invest <br />in development-growth. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cox stated that if the tax structure is wrong, why implement <br />the tax increment program, change the tax structure. <br /> <br />Commissioner COx then commented that of all the persons he has had discussions <br />with at the Metro Council, Jim Barton is the best because of his background <br />and Ramsey doesn't alway get this caliber of person to work with. <br /> <br />EDC/August 10, 1983 <br /> Page 3 of 10 <br /> <br /> <br />