12-11-00 BUDGET HEARING2001 Budget and Tax Levy Hearing
December 11, 2000
A budget hearing was held on iv7oriday, December i i, 2000 in the Council
Chambers at Hopkins City Hall. Present were Mayor Maxwell and Council
members Rick Brausen, Fran Hesch, Karen Jensen, and Diane Johnson. Also
present were staff members Steve Mielke, City Manager, and Lori Yager,
Director of Finance.
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Maxwell.
Finance Director Lori Yager presented the 2001 budget and tax levy
recommendations. In her presentation she indicated that the proposed budget
provided for a continuation of all programs and services. The general fund
budget is proposed at a balanced figure of $7, 740,084. This is an increase of
4.33 percent over the year 2000 budget, and provides for a tax levy increase of
6 percent.
Yager indicated that an average value home of $124,000 will pay $483 annually
for the city portion of property taxes, equaling $40.25 per month. The city
portion of the taxes will represent approximately 28 percent of the total tax bill.
Yager went on to describe the cost of each of the general fund budget areas.
Mayor Maxwell opened the public hearing at 6:50 p.m. Tom Green, 14
Hawthorne Road, indicated to the Council his concern over an article in the Star
Tribune that showed Hopkins ranked 17th highest in total property tax payments,
and inquired as to why they are so high in comparison to others. Various
Council members responded to Mr. Green, indicating that Hopkins tends to
provide a higher level of service, and that business and demographic differences
between Hopkins and the other communities tended to skew the results. It was
also mentioned that the ranking alone does not offer a fair comparison of cities,
based upon other factors that weigh-in on tax rates and property values.
There being no additional input for the public hearing, City Manager Mielke
indicated that the Council needed to determine whether or not to continue the
hearing to the predetermined date of December 18, or to close the hearing and
move toward adoption on December 19.
After discussion a motion was made by Hesch, seconded by Jensen, to close the
public hearing. The motion was passed unanimously. A motion was made by
Hesch, seconded by Johnson to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. The
meeting was adjourned at 725 p.m.
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