Mark Anderson asks: "Does anyone out there have numbers showing where our increases have come from?"
Vicky takes a stab: The biggest problem is interest payments on growing debts. The property taxes collected in TIF districts were supposed to pay down debt - but they didn't. Instead, they were used to fund NRP and all sorts of corporate welfare projects - many of which have gone belly up. So the money is gone, but we still owe the debts, plus interest. The correct set of numbers to use is the 2003 Budget that was distributed at the "Truth in Taxation" hearing last December. Everyone who refers to "the general fund" is only looking at a small piece of the pie. As Mayor Rybak said "It all comes out of the same checkbook." The 2003 budget for Minneapolis is $1.22 billion, before LGA cuts. Here is the revenue side of the 2003 budget: 329,400,000 From Selling Services 158,600,000 From State Government 158,600,000 From Property Taxes 146,400,000 From Other 122,000,000 From Other Funds 61,000,000 From TIF Property Tax 48,800,000 From Federal Government 48,800,000 From Rents 48,800,000 From Sales & Other Taxes 24,400,000 From Franchise Fees 24,400,000 From Licenses & Permits 12,200,000 From Local Government 12,200,000 From Selling Things 12,200,000 From Fines and Forfeitures 12,200,000 From Special Assessments Here is the expense side of the 2003 budget: 231,800,000 Public Works 146,400,000 MCDA 122,000,000 Capital Improvement 122,000,000 Debt Service 97,600,000 Other 97,600,000 Police 97,600,000 Transfers to Other Funds 73,200,000 Park Board 48,800,000 Fire Dept 48,800,000 City Coordinator 24,400,000 Health & Family Support 24,400,000 Convention Center 24,400,000 Licenses & Inspections 24,400,000 Library Board 24,400,000 Other Independent Boards 12,200,000 City Attorney Posted for the fifth and last time by, Vicky Heller Cedar-Riverside and North Oaks TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ 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
