-----Original Message----- From: JIM GRAHAM During the Mayor's presentation today Mayor Rybak stated that we would have to begin the debate about the NRP cut. I (Jim Graham) answered RT that this debate had already been engaged in and was over. The debate took place
before the last election. The politicians promising no cuts to NRP and to leave neighborhood control of NRP and empower those Neighborhoods won the debate. The Mayor and several candidates for City Council won on the basis of these commitments to keep NRP intact and promises to find the funding for it. We gave money, support, and votes on the basis of those commitments. It is NOT up for debate about funding NRP; it is up to those making the commitment to find the funds. [TB] I'm going to agree with the mayor here (and can already name some of the people who will be sending me emails telling me that I shouldn't do that). 2 years ago when those statements were made no one would have planned on both the change in the property tax formula mandated by the legislature and the probability that state aids to local government will be eliminated or greatly reduced. Part of the responsibility of leadership is to manage change dictated by outside forces. [Jim Graham] ... the taxpayers of Minneapolis should have a referendum on where and what they would be willing to see tax increases for. The Mayor said he would oppose such a referendum. [TB] Given that the city has already said it expects to triple the amount of property taxes it collects over the next 10 years, I think it would be difficult, probably nearly impossible to get any referendum increasing those taxes even more to pass. [Jim Graham] Can anyone tell me how 9-11 affected the City of Minneapolis' policy or debt? ... Let's face it 9-11 did nothing to get Minneapolis into this budget crises. Sharon and Jackie did, but RT and company knew this before making promises. I am insulted by the 9-11 excuse. Which part of Minneapolis was attacked, I must have missed it? [TB] It probably contributes to the problem. Without 9-11 the tanking of the economy likely would have been less severe and Local Government Aids might not be on the chopping block. LGAs are, after all, about $11 million a year coming into the city treasury. [Jim Graham] 2. Cut City employee pay by 2% across the board except for senior staff and City Council and Mayor, cut those salaries by 10%. Cuts to be in affect until budget crises solved. Senior staff, the Council, and the Mayor got us into this mess and they need incentive to get us out. [TB] I take exception to the suggestion at both the city and state levels that cutting employee salaries is a good solution. Government needs to pay a competitive wage to be competitive in hiring and retaining good employees. It also needs to get rid of any bad employees. [Jim Graham] Find new revenue streams: 3. Best new income stream - Start a City owned Casino at the old Sears building. Use profits to fully fund NRP and set aside 10% of profits to go to Native Community, including those not from reservations with casinos. State tax the profits from the casino. Such a casino would use two floors of the building, but would make the remainder far more valuable retail and commercial space; - tax it. This would also free Minneapolis from the vagaries of the Legislature. If enough is left over, put some into the general fund and buy a stadium for the "powers that be". (A little for everyone) [TB] see also http://www.skywaynews.net/display/inn_voices/voices01.txt Detroit's 3 casinos collected $81.5 million in wagering taxes in 2001 and $83.5 million during the first 11 months of 2002 and will finish the year at over $90 million 2002: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/revstaxes2002_11790_7.pdf 2001: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/revstaxes2001_11789_7.pdf The wagering tax in Detroit is 8.1% I don't know why the folks at City Hall aren't working on this now. Terrell Brown Loring Park terrell at terrellbrown dot org __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
