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BOARD OF REVIEW CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA The Ramsvy!Board of Review conducted a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 1992 at the Ramsey Mlariicil~al Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota. Members Pi~sent: Mayor James Gilbertson Councilmember Sheila Beyer Councilmember Glen Hardin Councilmember Kenneth Peterson Councilmember Gerald Zimmerman Also Present:~ City Administrator Ryan Schroeder City Assessor John Keefe Anoka County Deputy Assessor Ed Thurston CALL TO ORI)ER Mayor Gilbl~rtson called the Board of Review meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and led in the Pledge of Allegiance'to the Flag. PRESENTATION City AssesSOr John Keefe briefly described the formula he uses to arrive at market values for land and structu~$ aM explained that most values had gone up due to actual sales amounts, etc. The State requireslthat the assessed value has to be 95% of the market value or reasonably close. BOARD OF REVIEW BUSINESS Bernerd Versa, owner of a business located at 14057 Azurite Street N.W. - 34-32-25-11-0008 and 34-32-25-11-0009 - stated he has served on the Ramsey Economic Development Commission for the last five t~ six years. He stated that for the last 40 to 50 years, the government has been raising all the taxes,, reagestate, gas and sales. Sixty-five percent of wages paid are paid with tax dollars - federal offig~s, county, state and city workers, school teachers, armed forces, welfare and government, t/on ~ttacts. The government trade balance is off- the country is going broke and the City of Rarrlsoy iS going to lead the way. We have approximately 1200 acres in the City zoned commercial~g irg:lustrial and there's nobody waiting in line to buy these acres. All of a sudden there's a sal~ f~or $16,000 on a piece of property so the property value of the 1200 acres sitting for sale goes u~r ~ $t6,000. The tax load is on the small business owner who pays approximately 6.38 times mOre taxes as the homeowner with the same assessed value in property. He stated he's had his busi~ioSs id the City of Ramsey for 20 years and added that the American way is for people to own their:. ~o3vn ,business but with all the ordinances the City has it makes it difficult to set up a business her~. He inquired how the City expects people to sell 1200 commercial/industrial acres when the City's gdinances prohibit so much. He said he wanted to go down on record to the County or the Stale to let them know he just cannot pay additional taxes. He suggested cutting back on gov~mcnt spending, locally and building a business incubator with TIF monies. Mayor Gilbcrtson stated he lives in the City of Ramsey and pays taxes and sewer and water assessments~ia the City. He suggested the ordinances are enforced to keep the City free of as much debris!ai~ possible. Board of Review/April 15, 1992 Page I of 5