In a message dated 3/14/2001 6:53:26 PM Central Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I have always pondered the topic of annexing the
nearby suburbs, and I would like to hear what the pros
and cons would be for such an initiative. >>
Well, as I see it annexation won't occur and merger(s) represent the only
possibility. In any such a merger, Mpls. would offer adjoining suburbs:
about $200 million of current and growing deficit accounts (infrastructure,
public safety and internal services); a dramatic lack of affordable housing
for varied income levels, with much of the housing stock in disrepair;
current TIF districts that are zapping the general fund of needed revenues,
while non-TIF office vacancy rates are rising; numerous and growing
pressures to increase property tax rates to make ends meet; school and
(especially) library referendums that will add dramatically to property tax
burdens over the next 5-20+ years; all of which, when coupled with the
impending recession, doesn't bode well for employment, crime, etc. in the
city. As I see it, the question quickly becomes-- what incentive would any
adjacent suburb have to merge with Mpls.?? Any such merger would require a
win-win situation in order to succeed. What would be the net governmental
revenue flows? What are the respective gains and losses to be made in such
mergers? I think it will be a cold day in Antigua before we see any central
city-suburb mergers in this metro area.
Michael Hohmann
13th Ward
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
> Denise Tolbert
> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 6:52 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Annexing suburbs
>
>
> I have always pondered the topic of annexing the
> nearby suburbs, and I would like to hear what the pros
> and cons would be for such an initiative. I agree with
> Terrell Brown in that when you step back and consider
> the many municipalities that are housed within
> Hennepin County the number is astonishing. Especially
> considering that each of these municipalities have the
> same or similar authorities as the City of
> Minneapolis, which does indeed beg the question of
> whether having so many municipalities is an efficient
> use of taxpayer monies. The merging of these
> resources would certainly benefit all of the
> municipalities concerned in terms of efficient
> government management and expenditure of taxpayer
> resources. I hope that as the debate continues over
> issues of spawl, affordable housing, and
> transportation development the prospect of merging the
> suburbs with the City of Minneapolis will not be
> dismissed out of hand.
>
>
>
>
> --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> > From Wizard Marks
> >
> > > Back in the 1960s before the suburbs became so
> > powerful a constituency, the
> > > city should have annexed the near burbs out to
> > the 694/494 beltline
> > (roughly
> > > quoted from Tony Scallon).
> > > The city didn't and lost the opportunity to ever
> > do it.
> >
> > I agree it would be very difficult, maybe
> > impossible. However, I know that
> > is has happened in at least two cases in Ontario.
> > The cities of Toronto,
> > Scarborough, York, North York, Etobico (sp?), and
> > the Borough of East York
> > became Metro Toronto in the past 3 years. As a
> > former resident of Toronto
> > (went to University), I know that many functions
> > prior to the ammalgation of
> > the cities were overseen at the Metro level,
> > including police, transit, and
> > probably fire. However, each city did have its own
> > city council and mayor.
> > What is now Metro Toronto comprises the whole Region
> > (Ontario version of
> > county). I learned last night that Ottawa and
> > outlying suburbs have become
> > Metro Ottawa. The push for the ammalgations has
> > come from the Premier
> > (governor) of Ontario Mike Harris.
> >
> > I believe Phoenix has added a lot of land to its
> > city limits in the past
> > decade. And I know in the 1920s Los Angeles became
> > a much larger city based
> > on the fact that Los Angeles had made long term
> > deals for access to water,
> > which other cities in the area hadn't and joined LA
> > based on the resource
> > that they had access to.
> >
> > Josh Kroll
> > Powderhorn - Ward 9
> > _______________________________________________
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>
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