Carol Becker opines: ".....if you are an average homeowner in the City, your taxes are going up. But the amount of taxes being collected by the City is going down in real terms. This is because of huge property tax breaks given to business and wealthy property owners."
Vicky Heller replies: WRONG! Residential taxes are going up because of BAD DEALS, BAD DEBTS, OVERSPENDING, OVERDEVELOPING, MASSIVE LEGAL SETTLEMENTS, MISMANAGEMENT OF THE PENSION RESERVES, AND BECAUSE BUSINESSES GOT SICK AND TIRED OF SUBSIZING MINNEAPOLIS HOMEOWNERS - SO THEY LEFT TOWN. [Becker] "It is important for people to understand that this is not a crisis that came to us - this is a crisis that has been created by the Legislature." [Heller] Did the Legislature exempt St. Paul? Property tax rates in St. Paul HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED for thirteen consecutive years. Minneapolis would have a much bigger crisis if Governor Pawlenty hadn't saved you just one month ago - by sending an extra $13 million of LGA subsidies. In 2002, the legislature sent Minneapolis an extra $80+ million to pay down some of the Convention Center debt so that Moody's and Standard & Poors would leave your credit rating in tact - for a while anyway. Chris David writes: "People are going to start moving out of the city if we cannot start providing superior services without unbelievably high taxes." Vicky here: The trend is already established. There are lots of wonderful cities across this Country that do provide superior services with reasonable tax rates - and less corruption too! Minneapolis has created a giant Ponzi scheme that is just starting to fall apart. You desperately need more taxpayers, businesses and individuals. The last thing you should do is INCREASE property taxes which are already SKY HIGH relative to services received and comparable destinations. Vicky Heller North Oaks and Cedar-Riverside REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
