2015.01.12 CC Packet Combined - Laserfiche WebLink

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December 1, 2015 Page 2 of 6 Finance Director Davitt provided a budget overview, with historical references and noted the Council has worked to minimize the tax levy while still meeting citizens' needs and budget goals. She reviewed the proposed expenditures along with general fund revenues in further detail and noted expenditures have been fairly constant since 2007. She reviewed how the City has pursued non -tax revenues to assist with funding general fund expenditures. The proposed 2016 levy was $7,192,000. She then discussed how the levy would impact property values in New Brighton and explained what residents would receive for their investment in the City. She indicated the Council would be approving the final 2016 tax levies and budgets on Tuesday, December 8th at their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Staff then invited the public to make comments to the Council. Motion by Councilmember Jacobsen, seconded by Councilmember Burg to open the Public Hearing. 5 Ayes, 0 Nays - Motion Carried The Budget Hearing was opened at 6:43 p.m. Rick Moses, 2949 29th Ave NW, questioned how careful the City was being with its spending. He believed the expanded franchise fee was binge taxing by the City taking more than what it needed. He thought this to be immoral. It was his opinion that residents would be monitoring the City and its activities much more closely from this point forward. Hila Maze, 1395 Kary Lane, reported she has lived in New Brighton for the past 10 years and hoped to remain in the community long term. She supported the proposed levy and the investments that would be made in the City. She wanted the previously provided amenities to remain in place. Al Freeman asked if this was strictly a budget and taxes meeting. Mayor Jacobsen confirmed that this was the case. Ryan Grant, 1790 West County Road E, indicated he has lived in the City for 33 years. He questioned what percentage of New Brighton was occupied by commercial property. He believed that too much of the commercial property in the City was vacant at this time. He discussed how the economy has been impacted over the past 10 years and how this has impacted both commercial and residential real estate. He encouraged the Council to make wise decisions with other peoples' money. Vivian Walker, 2205 Long Lake Road, asked the Council and staff how the budget had been cut. Councilmember Strub explained that now was a time for the Council to take comments from the public and was not a time for dialogue. Ms. Walker thanked the Council for their time and encouraged them to begin running the City more like a business. She believed the Council should be more critical in analyzing its spending. Susan Erickson, 2012 291h Avenue, discussed LGA and asked if the City used these funds for property tax relief. She understood the City received approximately $500,000 in LGA each year. She feared how the City would make up these funds if the State did not offer LGA in