Centerville's rank of 14th-highest in city tax rates was good news: The city has been the highest-taxed city in the past. "It's a huge improvement for us," Mayor Mary Capra said. She said the average property owner has seen an increase in city taxes of only $63 in the past seven years. The city is getting creative. Today, the city is sponsoring what Capra calls "our own little economic stimulus package." The event, called Dash for Cash, includes a drawing for $500 in "Cougar Cash" that can be spent only in Centerville businesses. The idea is to promote city businesses and the city overall. "We have a bare-bones staff," Capra said. "This city council is conservative."
HIGHEST OVERALL TAX RATES
1. Carver
2. Victoria
3. Centerville
4. Savage
5. Circle Pines
6. Lexington
9. Dayton
7. Golden Valley
8. Farmington
10. Minneapolis
Pioneer Press-12/9/2008
9 comments:
The City Council is conservative? That's a laugh! Mary also neglected to mention the dash for cash goes hand in hand with the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their outrageous spending spree with the gazillion lights!!
Of course you don't have to raise our City taxes, Mayor when you continue to charge us special assessments for road maintenance. Where is the dedicated road fund that was promised this year?
Conservative is a laugh, for certain!
"The city is getting creative."
That's secret code for special assessment.
Thank you for the adopt a family. Could you please keep it on the top of the blog?
I have heard and read Mayor Capra & Councilman Paar speak several times this year on Centerville City tax rate ranking #16 in '08. Now Centerville is ranked #14. Looks like we're moving up once again. "Slowly they crept, step by step". While #14 may be an improvement from previous years, is it still a # we should be proud of, as seems to be indicated by the Mayor in this article?
Bottom line: Centerville citizens continue to be taxed by the county & this council as the 3rd highest taxed city in the State of Minnesota.
It would appear to me that the Mayor & Council purport to solve a problem they themselves helped to create. They say we need more businesses (and only NOW I would concur) to help bring down the tax rate. Yet it seems they neglect to realize it was upon their 'spend-spend-and-spend-some-more' mentality that created such an immediate, urgent and desperate need for businesses in this town.
On a personal note: The City portion on our taxes increased to over $200 for '09. This does not include the special assessments we anticipate are coming our way soon.
When are we getting the special assessment notices? I would like to know exactly what mine are because I need a new vehicle. The difference between new and used may be determined by what the City slaps on me.
Hey 9:31 p.m.
How 'bout buying a nice SUV you can sleep in because you are going to be taxed & assessed right out of your home!
The City is very creative, indeed! With a new annual fire protection fee of $84 per household, they just increased revenue over $100,000.
That's not a tax increase, you know. Maybe they will set it aside for a DEDICATED road maintenance fund. I am not holding my breath...
The city's exaggeration is as bad as the spending. They sure do have swollen heads. Is this what they have to do for them to think they are important people?
What next?
Besides the cities budget increasing,our sewer and water increasing there is now a hydrant fee? Can someone please explain what that is? Talk about bad timimg. Doesn't the council know these are very hard economic times for everyone, especially our elderly citizens?
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