09-25-23-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL— SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 10 year. He noted the City has been pretty conservative and that the budget is a plan, it doesn't mean that everything is necessarily going to happen. Councilmember Monson thanked the Mayor and Councilmember Holden for answering her questions. She stated she heard from residents during the election campaign that they want more for the taxes they pay, or were willing to pay more to get more, such as more park amenities, trails and playgrounds. She believed she was elected because she has a vision for what she wants to see. She wanted to see the City moving to meet the needs of the residents that live in this community. She supported the City working to complete a climate action plan or to become more sustainable. She struggled with how the City continually has a pattern of not meeting the budget. She hoped the Council could further discussion what its strategic goals and visions were for the City and how it should be spending its funds on behalf of the community. Councilmember Holden commented in past budgets the Council has added items (such as I&I) when grants are received. She explained the City put money into projects for trails that were not in the budget. She noted if there was additional grant money available, the Council jumped at the chance to save the citizens money. She said people will always say they are willing to pay more to get more, and that asking them how much more they want to pay is the question that is never asked, yet should be. She stated she worries about how the 40% of residents living in affordable housing in Arden Hills would be impacted by a 14.7% levy increase such as those in the manufactured home community or townhomes. She worried that people were struggling as it is as some are living only on social security. She commented further on how the County would be having tax increases as well that would impact all Arden Hills residents and this all adds up She also referenced the residents in the Glenpaul project area, many of which let the assessment amount go to their property taxes because they could not afford to pay the full amount up front. She stated she could support the Council continuing conversations about the City's vision, but she urged the Council to consider how the elderly and those less fortunate would be impacted by the levy increase. She said this is not just about the people that want a trail in the community but also about those that want a home in the community. Councilmember Fabel said it is hard to find people who are willing to pay more taxes. However, he said it important to remember that Arden Hills has the lowest tax rate in Ramsey by a significant amount. He noted that whatever additional tax burden the City imposes upon people, Arden Hills is still the lowest in all of Ramsey County. Councilmember Fabel stated he thinks he heard Councilmember Holden suggest that the reason there are budget surpluses is because staff is asking for more money than they think they really need. He said he has not seen that but feels staff is very careful and responsible with budgeting. He noted to vote for a maximum levy at the amount that has been budgeted shows a vote of confidence in staff and thanks them for the role that they do. Councilmember Holden said she does not believe she said that. She asked if they were in junior high school again and needed to insult people over the budget. She commented that she did not say staff deliberately does anything. She said she made the point that she thinks staff does a good job watching the budget and what they spend. She didn't like having words put into her mouth and felt Councilmember Fabel likes to belittle people and said she does not accept Councilmember's comment.