Citizen questions at the Shoreview 2010 budget & levy public hearing

Posted on 14. Dec, 2009 by Chris Dohman in City Council, government

Last week on Monday, December 7th was the Shoreview public hearing on the 2010 levy and budget. The council chambers were not as filled as some public hearings in the past but around a dozen people attended and of that dozen, 4 citizens stepped up to ask questions and raise their concerns. After this Mayor Sandy Martin and the city council responded to the questions and concerns. There was some spirited discussion but all remained civil.

The following is a summary of the questions and concerns raised and how the council responded. Items in blue are the city responses.

first citizen

• What is the difference between a tax and a levy?
  • A tax and levy are both taxes, they are the same thing.
• Where is the homestead credit on property tax statement?
  • This citizen’s home value is too high to receive a homestead credit but the credits have been unalloted by the state thus increasing the amount the city needs to cover.
• Why doesn’t someone get the guts to stand up to the state and federal government and tell them if they mandate something they have to fund it?
  • The city council meets with the legislature once each year and do tell them their priorities and how the city feels about mandates and other issues. The city of Shoreview also belongs to the League of MN Cities & the Municiple Legislative Commission which fight for all cities on mandates and mandate relief. These bigger voices have been successful in bringing property taxes down to 2 tiers of tax rates and most people’s property taxes closer to 1% rather than the 3%. Councilmembers also individually sit on various committees and voice concerns to the state. The council also urges citizens to voice their opinions to the legislature.
• Taxes are getting ridiculous and people are moving out. A $5.5 million dollar garage is ridiculous.
  • The maintenance garage needed 1 to 2 million dollars of work for maintenance of roof, air handling, and code deficiencies. Additional office space, an adequate mechanic area and an increase of size is doable now with a positive bidding climate and good timing for bond payback when the debt service levy is dropping in 2011 and 2012.

second citizen

• Is the city responsible for maintaining trails on the Rice Creek Nature preserve?
  • The trails were constructed by Shoreview but Ramsey County does the maintenance.
• What is the total city debt?
  • The debt levy for next year is $565,000 on an annual basis accounting for about 8% of levy. Shoreview has a rather low level of debt which helped achieve a higher bond rating recently. General obligation debt balance at the end of 2009 is $13,000,000. or 8.4% of our debt limit based on home value. Street improvement bonds are $2.3 mil, fire station bonds are$1.3 mil, improvement bonds are $1.8 mil, tax improvement and community center expansion project.
• Is there a plan to put in curbs into the Edgetown Acres neighborhood
  • Street reconstruction is planned but not in next 5 years, but rather for 2017 or 2918.
• echo 1st citizen….. it’s time to stand up to the state, no more debt.

third citizen

• Citizens have to make cuts in their own budgets, what services has the city cut?
  • page 7 of the booklet, reduction strategies
    • allocating a higher share of MSA dollars to street maintenance
    • revisions to utility fund transfers (as payments in lieu of taxes)
    • revisions to rental licensing fees
    • elimination of a maintenance worker position through a staff retirement
    • reduced forestry plantings
    • associate staff reductions
    • contractual fees
    • elimination of the contingency allowance
    • reduced support for recreation programs
  • A Saturday morning brush drop-off program eliminated in the past
  • Motor oil drop – eliminated in the past
  • Buy trees at wholesale cost program – eliminated in the past
• How about the cutting the community center?
  • Closing one day per week would most likely lose $ and memberships
• How about cutting library?
  • The library is run by Ramsey County
• What are the salary increases for city employees?
  • Salary adjustment is 1% for 2010 for step number 6. Steps 1-5 goes according to step schedule. Overall increase is 1.5-2% for employee salary cost.

fourth citizen

• If the city is 98% built, why do we need 2 city planners?
  • The city planners are kept busy. Functions include:
    • Code enforcement of foreclosed homes which is over 100 homes.
    • Routine code enforcement
    • Variance requests
    • Building expansions
    • Community Development

Councilmember Ady Wickstrom asked if any other unallotments or affects from the state is possible?

• State aid to police or fire pensions could be affected.

The City Council will take action on the city budget and levy on December 21st.

Tags: Budget Bits, city council meeting, Feature, levy, taxes