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Assessments: Not a special feeling Page 3 of 3 away. But I wanted to stay here." • Some payments deferred For senior citizens such as Hoehn, as well as disabled people, the law allows cities to defer assessment payments until the property is sold or the owners die. Other homeowners can appeal their assessments to their city council. If they don't like the council's decision, they can appeal to their district court within 30 days. But in Mounds View, Valerie and Brian Amundsen wanted to change more than their own assessment. They started a petition drive to overhaul the entire system for paying for roads. As a result, the city created a task force that examined the way it funded road construction, and ended up abolishing assessments, Valerie Amundsen said. The conclusion was that the roads benefited everyone, and everyone should pay. "Now, the typical homeowner pays a flat $100 fee a year over the course of 10 years," said Valerie Amundsen. That property tax increase will generate about $400,000, city officials said. To make it easier for cities to fund road repair, the League of Minnesota Cities will propose the creation of"street improvement districts" at the Legislature this session. The districts would allow cities to bill residents over a 20-year period for street maintenance . and reconstruction and spread assessments over a bigger group of homeowners who don't necessarily live right on a street that's being repaired. The proposal also would avoid the requirement that homeowners' special assessments must not exceed the increased value of their property after the construction or development. In the meantime, Cina has given up his fight with the city of Eagan after going through some health problems. His assessment has been deferred until "a future point in time," such as the sale of his home or subdivision of property near his home, City Manager Tom Hedges said. Hedges said he sympathizes with Cina, one of many residents facing large assessments. But it's the price of development, he said, and that development will ultimately increase Cina's property values. Cina's not convinced, adding, "This just doesn't seem fair." hopfen@startribune.com • 651-298-1553smetan@startribune.com • 612-673-7380 ©2008 Star Tribune.All rights reserved. • http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print This Story?sid=I4446556 1/28/2008