Nick Frank wrote:
How does the city council plan to make up the difference in tax revenues that would have been generated under the original proposal and the project that actually gets built (if any)? If the office component is scaled back that is a significant reduction in property tax revenues due to the higher rate offices pay. The only real options would be to raise property taxes or somehow get more state aid (unlikely at best)
There is another, better option. The city (and the county?) could change their commercial-industrial property tax to land value taxation which puts the tax solely on the land, not the building. Generally, low-density areas are taxed higher than currently while dense areas get a tax break. It can be implemented in the revenue-neutral way, but it would encourage the kind of development we want to see.
Density is going to have to precede transit in this city (political reality).
I don't think that's necessarily the case, especially if we get more good Republicans like Ron Erhardt and the "Transportation 10" elected. The one argument against the project that I find somewhat plausible is the concern about increased traffic congestion. Ultimately, the residents of whatever new development gets built will have to make the choice of whether to drive or not, so this argument isn't very convincing to me. We have a million more people moving into the area over the next 25 years and they have to live _somewhere_. Better in the city than increasing the land footprint of the metro. And we're already ahead of those population projections. I have a car but really only use it for commutes to and from work when I have meetings before or after the work day (ironically, meetings about public transportation). Otherwise I take the bus almost exclusively. David Greene The Wedge REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
