CCP 12-09-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

i - ~ RAMSEY COUNTY . REQUEST FOR RAMSEY COUNTY BOARD ACTION ~ Type of Agenda: [Xl Policy o Administrative o Consent o Information o Public Hearing o Ordinance Requesting Department: County Manal!.er e..' . Committce: Committee: Meeting Date: Meeting Date: County-Wide Ramifications [Xl or Affected Commissioner District(s) #: Board Meeting Date: 11/26/02 Board Meeting Date: SUBJECT: Creating an Environmental Response Fund from Additional Mortgage Registration and Deed Taxes per Authorizing Legislation. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On June 25, 2002, the Department of Property Records and Revenue presented the question of whether or not to fund an Environmental Response Fund (ERF) to the County Board for discussion and direction. The Board expressed interest in exploring further the opportunity of implementing the tax and ,cussing how the funds would be used in either a policy or workshop setting. This Board Action provides nnation that can be used to frame a policy discussion on creating and funding an ERF and detennining how to spend the funds. The amount of funds that could annually be raised for an ERF in Ramsey County is approximately $700,000. If the tax had been imposed since August 1997, it would have raised over $2.5 million. This tax could be implemented whenever the County Board chooses, and could be in effect by one month following Board action. No public notification is needed. The policy questions for consideration by the Cotmty Board include: I. Should the County begin to collect taxes and create an ERF? 2. If yes, what should be the priorities for the ERF? 3. If yes, how should policy direction and oversight of the ERF be handled? The County Manager convened a team of stafffTom several departments to review and analyze issues related to creating an ERF. Staff identified four options for cxpcnditure of the funds if the County Board chooses to create an ERF. Discussion is not limited to these options, but these are the four that were analyzed by staff for consideration by the Board. Once a method for expenditure of the funds has been selected, specific criteria would need to be developed and brought to the Board. 1. Use the ERF to fund one or two significant projects that can have Countywide impact. 2. Distribute the ERF to municipalities for thcir use, according to a formula. 3. Use the ERF for cnvironmental response in priority areas that other fnnds do not cover. 4. Create a grant program for a variety of small and medium sized projects. _It was solicited from all Ramsey County municipalities on creation of an ERF and options for expenditure of '-unds. This was accomplished via discussion at the Scptembcr 18th County Manager's quarterly meeting with city managers and a follow-up written survey. The results of the survey are attached. ACTION REQUESTED None. For discussion only.