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Mayor Gamec noted that the City budget has quadrupled in the past four years <br />and residential taxes have not quadrupled. <br /> <br />John Lichter - City will need tools to maintain sewer and water, not talking <br />parts and equipment for installation, and those tools would be a service and <br />taxes will go up. <br /> <br />Councilmember Reimann noted that the City of Anoka has purchased some out-of- <br />city type fire equipment and Ramsey intends to continue to contract services <br />from Anoka. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec noted that as far as the police department goes, they are planning <br />to request budgeting for one or two more officers already. The levy limit <br />limits how much a city can raise taxes and people don't realize how much input <br />they really have into government at the city level. <br /> <br />Councilmember Reimann stated that he was informed by Representative Weaver <br />that the cost of government keeps rising because of all the services the <br />people are demanding. How much government can you afford and the city should <br />be run as a profitable business. Commercial development benefits the city in <br />more ways than one and if people want more services they are going to have to <br />allow for ways to obtain more tax base to pay for those services. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that residents of multiple dwellings planned for the <br />southeast edge of Ramsey would have to utilize Anoka parks. <br /> <br />John Lichter restated that if Ramsey allows public utilities and high density <br />housing, Ramsey taxes will go up. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec disagreed, that utilities should be viewed the same as blacktop <br />streets, that property valuation will increase. <br /> <br />Ed Mingel - Increase in valuation is not money in pocket until you sell the <br />property, there will be an outlay of cash in the interim. <br /> <br />John Lichter referred to EDC notes which include a motion that EDC be allowed <br />to review requests for sewer and water. He stated that EDC should be <br />concerned with economic issues and not with utilities. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that the City is looking at the possibility of forming a <br />Utility Commission. <br /> <br />Tom Patchen - City should consider the small businessman, when considering <br />installing sewer and water, because the small businessman is the backbone of <br />the community. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec replied that the small businessman will not get sewer and water <br />unless he petitions for it or is causing a pollution problem. <br /> <br />Tom Patchen - Eventually the City will put the small businessman out of <br />business when you provide utilities for the larger corporations. <br /> <br />Dick Martin - A business cannot afford to locate in Ramsey and you are <br />installing sewer and water on the speculation business will come into the <br />City. <br /> <br />Sp C/May 16, 1983 <br /> Page 4 of 9 <br /> <br /> <br />