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<br />Mayor Gamecnbted the preliminary levy could be adopted at a higher rate With the option to <br />reduce the levy rate for fmal adoption. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated if the preliminary levy shows any type of tax increase that is what is <br />reported. Once the preliminary levy passes people do not point out that the Council has lowered <br />it. He does not think they should play games and disrupt the community by adopting a higher <br />preliminary levy if that is not the rate they plan on adopting. <br /> <br />General consensus of the Council was to direct staff to proceed with a 39.39% tax capacity rate <br />with a reduction of$150,000 from the $1,095,571 Equipment Revolving.Fund transfer. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig indicated he would like additional review before agreeing to a tax rate. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund indicated there will be some fluctuation as the County. numbers are not <br />final. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey thanked staff for their work and the update on the numbers. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec commented that the number of permits has not fallen off much from last year, <br />although they have according to the budget. <br /> <br />Interim City Administrator Nelson explained the number of permits was down in 2006 also, and <br />there was a budget amendment. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated it is often said that communities like S1. Francis and Oak Grove <br />have lower taxes, but when you show their benefit from state aid and other sneaky taxes, it is <br />interesting to note that they are at a higher percentage of property tax in total, yet they offer less <br />in services. He noted that the City of Anoka uses a lot of funds from their electric co-op. He <br />would like to see how that is done. He would also like to look atEDAs and HRAs and what <br />these communities are doing in that realm. He pointed out the low total property tax rate of <br />Fridley and indicated he would like to determine if this rate is achieved through some type of <br />funding mechanism. He ~tated he is appreciative of where they sit in Ramsey and thinks they do <br />a good job in services. <br /> <br />MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF INPUT <br /> <br />None <br /> <br />ADJOURNMENT <br /> <br />The Work Session of the Gity Council was adjourned at 6:55 p.m. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / August 14,2Q07 <br />Page 6 of7 <br /> <br /> <br />