[Winona Online Democracy] Bob:
I totally understand your sentiments--it does, indeed, seem as though the state is passing on costs to local municipalities. Playing devil's advocate for a minute, I got to thinking that maybe that's all an executive leader of a state can do--either advocate for the state to take financial responsibility for providing funding for local services, or empower localities to be responsible (for creating revenue). Isn't this the classic debate? Like Paul is saying--each locality decides what is essential for its' citizens and how to fund the essentials and the "extras." I seem to recall that at one point, the governor's plan also included limiting localities' options as far as what they are allowed to levy for or how much. Is that true? If my assertion above is correct, I don't think the State should be able to have it both ways. I also understand that many of our MN funding "formulas" were developed to create equity between metro and outstate municipalities, etc. It seems that this value is either being encrouched upon or abandoned. Can those more knowledgeable than I provide some more facts to fill in? Is this tax fair? Reasonable? Will it go to pay for what we think we need and want? It seems Paul is asking the press to investigate and help us to decide. Kathy Seifert ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert P Kaldunski" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "terri hyle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 10:57 PM Subject: Re: [Winona] City to raise your energy tax 25% > [Winona Online Democracy] > > This is how the Republicans are getting around the no tax raise at the State > level idea. What a bunch of rectums Bob K > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "terri hyle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 8:39 PM > Subject: Re: [Winona] City to raise your energy tax 25% > > > > [Winona Online Democracy] > > > > Paul, > > > > Thanks for posting this; it is something that slipped by me completely. > > > > In light of the budgetary shortfalls the city (like most cities in MN) is > > facing, what courses of action do you think the city should pursue? > > Increasing property taxes? Raising fees? Eliminating services? I am not > > nearly as well versed in city finances as I should be. > > > > My family re-located to MN almost 15 years ago. After an initial > adjustment > > to the city size and to the differences in the kinds of services offered > > (for instance, in our city in MI, the city collected all garbage weekly, > and > > would pick up furniture and used appliances for free if you called in > > advance), I have felt the city services to be quite good and city and > county > > officials quite easy to deal with. I have been very impressed with the > Park > > Rec department, etc. and the library, to name only two. I guess I am > > saying, I would hate to see us lose any of these services/amenities that > > make Winona such a pleasant place to live. > > > > I am interested in hearing what others think and how others feel we should > > resolve the conflict between what we need, what we want, and what we can > > afford. > > > > Terri Hyle > > > > > > > > > > >From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >To: "On Line Democracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Subject: [Winona] City to raise your energy tax 25% > > >Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 20:26:32 -0500 > > > > > >It came to my attention this morning on the radio that the City of Winona > > >council is scheduled for Monday night to raise taxes 25% on your utility > > >bill. One of the most played down taxes in the city is their option to > > >force Xcel to add a 4 percent tax onto our bills. Monday night they want > > >to > > >raise that to 5 %. While it doesn't sound like much the media should do > > >their homework and release to the public the "total dollars" this > important > > >jewel generates to the city's General Fund. My guess the new money could > > >be > > >about $250,000 or one forth of the dollars they indicated they are short > in > > >the paper today. If my number is off what is it? > > > > > > > > > > > >While "the thought behind this tax is logical" as everyone including non > > >profits and government entities will get tagged whereas property taxes > only > > >hit those who pay them. It is one way for city taxpayers to also get > some > > >more state money from the University and College. My point is this tax > > >generates significant revenue and the number, like cable fees, is often > not > > >given the media attention it should get. It cost the city nothing to > > >administrate and is pure revenue. If the city is unwilling to provide it > > >Xcel has the numbers since they write the check back to the city. > > > > > > > > > > > >As a side note, I believe, the City of Goodview has still not elected to > > >charge the tax, which is a municipal option they also have available. In > > >light of the fact that they got a more dramatic hit on LGA than most it > may > > >be something they need to reconsider. It could easily generate > significant > > >revenue for them and fall outside the formula of the property tax > increase > > >limits. > > > > > > > > > > > >The ball is now in the court of the media, the numbers are public and > > >people > > >have the right to know where the make up funds are going to hit us. We > > >have > > >had media coverage of the proposed reductions now we need to see the rest > > >of > > >the story. > > > > > > > > > > > >Paul Double > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* > > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus > > > > _______________________________________________ > > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact > page at > > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > > > > > _______________________________________________ > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
