1998 Correspondence - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e CONCLUSIONS The economic and demographic trends that have evolved in the City of Ramsey are typical of to day's bedroom community. Ramsey is a community that is predominantly a place to own a home but not necessarily a place to work, shop, or recreate. The City budget is supported heavily by its residential tax base and benefits by the fiscal disparities act which disperses commercial and industrial tax revenues over the region: however, in the past few years industrial development has increased the commercial/industrial share of the Ramsey tax base. The educational level of Ramsey citizens supports the dominance of the manufacturing industry in the region. Many of its residents have a high school degree and possibly some technical college education, but fewer residents in the community have gone on to obtain higher education in comparison to the region. As industry looks to expand and looks for a labor pool to support manufacturing-it will continue to look in the Ramsey area. Although it is good to bring in industry to support the local tax base, it is just as important to diversify the employment base so that opportunities for jobs other than manUfacturing will be available to residents who may be under or over qualified for that type of employment. A diversity of employment opportunities will help maintain an economically viable community. Ramsey's current population cohorts indicate that there are a large number of middle- aged residents and a large number of teenagers in the community. As the middle-aged cohort begins to move to the next life cycle, consideration needs to be given to the changing lifestyles and incomes so that they may remain in the community. Ramsey's teenage population will cause some concern with school capacity. Two school districts divide Ramsey, Anoka Hennepin (District11) and Elk River (District 728). District 11 currently has no plan for a new school within the City of Ramsey. Because District 11 encompasses the majority of land area and population between the two districts, the rate and intensity at which Ramsey develops will have a significant impact on future facility needs. Consideration of a future District 11 school site within Ramsey is important if the City is to adequately serve its population with high quality education. Population growth is not as much of a factor for siting additional facilities within Ramsey for District 728 because of the small portion of the district that falls within the City. However, the density at which the northwest corner of the City develops may have an impact on where District 728 locates a new facility within its boundary. Ramsey is not a highly affluent community nor is it a poverty stricken community. The average household in Ramsey is a married couple, possibly with a child, having a total income of between $40,000 to $50,000 and living in a home valued between $100,000 to $125,000. If the development pattern continues to follow previous trends, we can anticipate a slowing of residential growth into the next decade because the availability of platted lots will dwindle and activities to slow growth will hinder the subdivision of vacant land. This slowdown will continue until some future force or action opens up more land for development: however, this cycle probably will not continue much longer into the future City of Ramsey Comprehensive Plan Page 13