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<br />DRAFT <br /> <br />ARDEN HILLS TRUTH-IN-TAXATION - DECEMBER 6, 1999 <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />'~ <br /> <br />Mr. Caldwell requested an explanation of the Fiscal Disparities adjustments. Mr. Post explained .- <br />that the concept of the Fiscal Disparities pool was that, just because one community benefits .- <br />from being close to existing infrastructure, that community should not be able to reap all the <br />rewards of development activity. The requirement is that the community share 40 percent of its <br />new commercial/industrial tax capacity with the entire metropolitan area since the metropolitan <br />area was also providing resources for the development growth. Therefore, when a new building <br />goes up in a community, 40 percent of the building's tax capacity goes into the Fiscal Disparities <br />pool. There are more net city receivers from the pool than there are net city contributors to the <br />pool, and the City of Arden Hills is one of the few net contributors to the pool. Mayor Probst <br />noted that the City of Richfield received approximately $1,000,000 from the Fiscal Disparities <br />program. <br /> <br />Mr. Wilson asked what the basis was for receiving money from the Fiscal Disparities pool. Mr. <br />Post stated that the distribution of funds was formula driven. <br /> <br />Slide #4, Median Market Value of Homes in Ramsey County by City, Payable 1999 to Proposed <br />Payable 2000, provided information regarding what the neighboring cities proposed city tax rates <br />were and the median valuation of their residential properties. In the case of Arden Hills, the <br />percentage increase in City tax on the median value home would be 6.64 percent. The change in <br />tax percentage of the neighboring cities ranged from 14.30 percent for White Bear Township to a <br />negative 4.45 percent for Little Canada. The City of Little Canada had a bond levy that had been <br />paid off and the levy dropped accordingly. Overall, the average increase in the city portion of the <br />tax for the II neighboring cities was six percent. e <br /> <br />Slide #5, Components of Total Proposed 2000 Rates, explained the portions of the property tax <br />bill from each of the jurisdictions. The City of Arden Hills' portion was 16 percent of the total <br />property tax bill. Ramsey County represented 39 percent and the School District #621 <br />represented another 40 percent of the total bill. Special Independent School District #916 was a <br />small component which represented less than one percent of the tax bill. Prior to the adoption of <br />the Educational Credit given to residents, School District #621 had traditionally been operating <br />at approximately 55 percent. Therefore, with the Educational Credit, the School District had <br />essentially bought down approximately IS percent of their portion of the property tax bill. <br /> <br />Slide #6, City of Arden HillsINeighboring Cities Analysis of 1999 State Aid to Cities, presented <br />the distribution of State Aid for North Metro cities. The HACA and Local Government Aid may <br />be used as a dollar-for-dollar reduction in need for property tax levy. The City of Arden Hills <br />has historically been a significantly less than average recipient of State Aid funds. Arden Hills <br />receives approximately $9 per capita in State Aid which was substantially lower compared to the <br />amount of such aid received by neighboring cities. <br /> <br />Mr. Caldwell asked why the amount of State Aid received by the City of Arden Hills was lower <br />than the surrounding communities. Mr. Post explained that when the State of Minnesota was <br />experiencing financial difficulties in the 1980's, the State removed the Local Government Aid <br />from the City of Arden Hills. The State of Minnesota also made a permanent reduction in the <br />amount of HAC A aid being received by Arden Hills. Mr. Caldwell asked if anything could be <br />done about these reductions in State Aid. Mr. Post stated that Legislative action or a Minnesota <br />Department of Revenue policy change would have to occur. <br /> <br />e <br />