Well. Some misinformed statements here.
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> I think it's important to remember what the City can do and can't do. For
> example, only a small part of the taxes we pay in the City actually go to
> the City. Over 50% of the taxes go to the schools. In addition, tax policy
> is mostly set by the legislature and not the City Council. The City Council
> controls that portion of the taxes that we pay by their City budget. Again,
> it's a small part of the total.
True in major part, which is why TIF districts are a disaster for other
jurisdictions who have to share the loss of the tax increment for the 25
years the TIF district runs - and ever afterward if they apply for an
extension which requires no hears whatsoever.
Thus, when a city creates a TIF district for development, with all the
public dollars going to wealthy corporations for their building with no
equity investment on their part - an absolute requirement banks impose when
lending money otherwise - schools, the counties and other taxing
jurisdictions (like St. Paul's Port Authority and, perhaps, the MCDA?) -
take it in the neck and have to find other sources to tap when that piece of
land can no longer be counted on as generating revenue.
>
> The City has nothing to do with education policy. That's set by the school
> district and to some extent by the state.
This is only partly true. And it is also the reason the creation of
separate, independent school districts was a disastrous one. Where it's
true is ion the attempted segregation of education from all other aspects of
residential life - as if they can be and as if education isn't the key to
success in all other endeavors - employment, citizenship, economic
stability, historical perspective. Cities used to run the education system
until the late 40's in Minnesota. Creating the separate jurisdiction
stupidly has set education against all other policy arenas for the resources
and attention to operate as integral part of our lives.
But I refer to my earlier concerns that the effects of city financial
initiatives can be seriously detrimental to the school districts therein.
>
> Where the City can have an impact is on infrastructure - roads, sewers, etc.
> That is the portion of the City budget which was under attack during the last
> budget session. The Mayor wanted to cut the budget of Public Works which
> maintains our infrastructure. In reality what should have happened, in my
> opinion, is that portion of the budget should have been increased to cover
> the increasing demands for infrastructure improvement. Example: Drive
> Richfield Road - the road between Lake Calhoun and Lakewood Cemetery -
> sometime and you'll readily see what I mean.
>
> In my opinion the reason why Mayor Coleman has been successful is that he
> makes maximum use of the bully pulpit. He's always out there touting the
> virtues of St. Paul to the right people. He has been extremely successful.
> That's what Minneapolis needs. I just don't think a "behind the scenes
> Mayor" is what is needed. Perhaps we should look at that quality in those
> running for Mayor this year.
I can't speak to the Minneapolis mayor's priorities for infrastructure
maintenance and improvement. But know this: Mayor Coleman has, in his zeal
and public relations for re-building St. Paul's downtown failed in his
responsibility to keep the city's taxpayers from the risk of the debt
incurred by putting millions of public dollars in private, corporate
pockets, disregarding the fundamental issues of affordable housing (St. Paul
is 35,000 units of decent, affordable housing short) and neighborhood
community development that would ensure the survival of small businesses who
serve residents and not absentee executives who live in the suburbs and
drain our city dry of its precious resources.
New bricks and mortar notwithstanding, Norm Coleman has only been as
successful as the sycophant newspaper over here as allowed him to seem, but
he has mortgaged the financial future of this city and its taxpayers, only
now, again, to seek higher office and leave his successor (hopefully Jay
Benanav) to deal with the resulting debt service in a declining economy.
--
Andy Driscoll
St. Paul, MN
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