Another gem from today's Minneapolis Observer..... "As Scott Smith reports in The Business Journal (www.twincities.bizjournals.com), the city will borrow $35 million this year and $130 million over the next five to six years to erase deficits in two of its retirement funds: the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund and the Minneapolis Police Relief Association. The move, made necessary by poor investment returns and an unexpected rise in the number of retirees, will allow the Council to hold the increase in 2003 property taxes to 8 percent, rather than the estimated 32 percent increase necessary to fund the pension plans without borrowing."
There would be riots in the streets if Minneapolis actually pays its bills - because property taxes would go through the roof (and so would the homeowners and business owners.) More debt means more interest expense - it's like paying your Visa with a MasterCard check. This act of desperation only compounds and delays the problem. Who, who, who is going to pay all of this money back? Vicky Heller North Oaks and Cedar-Riverside _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
