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Assessments: Not a special feeling Page 2 of 3 Grove, which raised $41 million, and Woodbury, with $25 million. Coon Rapids, Eagan and Cottage Grove also were near the top of the list. 411 But the list doesn't say what portion of the tab was picked up by homeowners. That varies from city to city. St. Paul, however, uses special assessments for projects well beyond most municipalities. It uses special assessments to pay for everything from tree trimming to snow removal to road reconstruction, in part because of cuts in state aid to local governments, in part to avoid raising citywide property taxes, said Matt Smith, St. Paul's finance director. Assessing assessments For some homeowners, assessments seem like a fair way to pay for improvements near their property — especially if it's a couple thousand dollars to replace crumbling sidewalks. They may not be thrilled about the cost, but they understand that cities need a way to pay for special services. Paul Laederach of Edina agrees with his city that roads in his historic Country Club neighborhood are in bad shape and need replacing. But the senior citizen balks at the cost. While the city will bear half of the cost of the $19.7 million project to replace and • repair streets, street lighting, water and sewer systems, homeowners still are paying $18,210 to $22,900 each. "Taxes keep going up, but our income doesn't," Laederach said. Some of his neighbors are less charitable in their assessments. "It's unconscionable to levy such a large amount to an individual property owner," said Margo Hoppman. "A project of this scope and magnitude should be shared by all of Edina." In Edina, homeowners pay the entire cost of street replacement. Two years ago, the City Council talked about sharing that cost, but there was concern about reversing the policy when many homeowners had already paid those fees. Most homeowners simply pay their bills. In Brooklyn Park, Patricia Hoehn said she was "shocked and dismayed" several years ago when she learned the city wanted to connect her bucolic neighborhood of big lots and gravel roads to city streets, water and sewer at a cost of more than $80,000 per household. While some of her neighbors broke up their 2.5-acre lots, selling excess land to • developers, Hoehn decided to keep the big wooded lot where she has lived for 35 years. The city deferred $17,000 until she sells or divides her lot. She paid $53,000. "I raised my family here," Hoehn said. "Something this size ... does take your breath http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print This Story?sid=14446556 I/28/2008