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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,January 9,2023 Page 10 Public Comment Mayor Roe offered an opportunity for public comment. Mr.John Kysylyczyn, 3083 Victoria Street Mr. Kysylyczyn explained that starting back with the 1996 Legislative session, he attended a couple hundred MN House and Senate Tax Committee and Tax Confer- ence Committee hearings. There were a couple of facts he wanted to point out to the City Council for them to think about. He indicated as the staff report indicates, this proposal will shift at least $108 million dollars from the property tax to the sales tax. Number two, as the staff report states both the sales tax and property tax harm low income and minority groups. As a side point,the staff report is incorrect about the income tax because low-income people do not pay income tax. Number three, last time he reviewed the list of the largest property taxpayers in the City,he believed Rosedale was number one, HarMar Mall was number two, various strip malls were three through five,etc.Number four,shifting millions from the property tax to the sales tax harms low-income and minority groups from receiving State assistance from the property tax refund program. He indicated there is no sale tax refund program that exists in this State. Number five, in the past five years there has been a massive expansion of home delivery of almost every product available. Sales tax in Roseville was once considered a tax primarily paid for by non-city residents and that has changed. Today, more than ever, a sales tax will hit low in- come,minority groups that try to take advantage of savings from using online buy- ing and delivery to their home. The conclusion he has and the question he wants everyone to ponder is why this Council vote would yes on a proposal that will harm low-income minority groups from obtaining the largest property tax refund possi- ble.Number two,why is the Council voting yes for what essentially will be a multi- million-dollar tax break to Rosedale, HarMar Mall, and the wealthiest corporate landowners in this City. He believed that the Council owes the community an ex- planation as to what their position is on this broader issue of shifting $108 million from the property tax to the sales tax and the broader implications that has for the community. Mayor Roe thanked Mr. Kysylyczyn for his input and information. Groff moved, Etten seconded, adoption of Resolution No. 11959 entitled, "Resolu- tion Supporting the Authority to Impose a Local Sale Tax to Fund Specific Capital Improvements Providing Regional Benefit,to Establish the Duration of the Tax and the Revenue to be Raised by the Tax, and to Authorize the City to Issue Bonds Supported by the Sales Tax Revenue." Council Discussion