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Mr. Wyrum stated his taxes to the City went up 32.5% and the Finance Officer is saying the taxes <br />did not go up. "You must have creative financing". <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin stated that the County Assessor determines property values. <br /> <br />Mr. Wyrum asked "because my home value goes up, I have to pay more money to you?" <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin reiterated that the City does not assess property values. He asked Mr. Wyrum if the <br />value stated is higher than he feels the property is worth. <br /> <br />Mr. Wyrum replied yes. <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin reminded Mr. Wyrum that the purpose of this meeting is to talk about the City's <br />budget. If the assessed value is too high, he told Mr. Wyrum he could have that abated. <br /> <br />Mr. Wyrum stated that if the market value goes up, the taxes go up. A zero tax increase means you <br />should pay the same amount as you did in 1996. I am paying more than $200 more. He asked <br />what the City does with that extra money. "If you get money, you will spend it". "You should <br />live within your budget you set". He stated that he is having to pay an extra $60 to the City. <br /> <br />City Administrator Schroeder stated that each year the total market value increases. The City gets <br />more money as a result of that, without increasing the tax levy. We do not have the ability to deal <br />with this on a case by case basis but we do have the ability to reduce our tax rate and receive a <br />lower portion. Staff is not presenting that the tax rate be cut, only that it be maintained. Your <br />concern is that your home increased fairly significant in value, we do not have control of that. <br /> <br />Mr. Wyrum stated that if the County increases the home value, the City gets more money. The <br />City should not then be able to say that the taxes did not go up. <br /> <br />Ms. Hart explained that she tried to portray that if your value did not go up, you should not <br />experience an increase in the City's portion of the taxes. She added that she called Mark Donnelly, <br />Anoka County Assessing, to see what the average property value increase was on residential <br />homestead property in the City, however, he had not yet gotten back to her. She stated that you <br />will see an increase in taxes if you see a value increase. She reiterated that the City is not <br />increasing its tax rate. <br /> <br />Mr. Wymm stated "you are just taking my tax dollars and spending them". <br /> <br />Bruce Bacon, resident on the north side of Ramsey, asked what happened to the Landf'fll Trust <br />Fund, the Landfill Tipping Fee, and how do grants affect the City's budget. <br /> <br />Ms. Hart explained that the tipping fee fund is no longer, due to the closure of the landfill. When <br />the City could charge it, 75% was set aside for abatement and 25% was put in the general fund. <br />These funds have been used for clean-up days, curbside recycling programs, etc. The tipping fee <br />fund was restricted to the interest earned - it was transferred to the general fund for environmental <br />services. The trust fund - these are restricted funds. The interest earnings are used toward park <br />development costs. She added that there are no longer revenues coming into that fund. The <br />activity is accounted for as a separate fund. With regard to grants, the City does pursue them. The <br />City is currently funding a portion of a patrol officer through a grant. These grants are accounted <br />for out of special revenue funds. Within this budget, we tried to anticipate grants. There is always <br />the potential of getting state grants - they are recorded in the general fund. <br /> <br />Budget Public Hearing/December 4, 1996 <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br /> <br /> <br />