2010-12-06 CC Minutes TNTAlbcrt
Smal Town Firing. Big Cw Ufa.
ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
December 6, 2010
Truth -in -Taxation
MINUTES
ALBERTVILLE CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER — ROLL CALL
The Mayor called the Truth -in -Taxation meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
6:15 PM
PRESENT: Mayor Ron Klecker, Council members Dan Wagner, John Vetsch, Tom Fay, and
Larry Sorensen
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: City Administrator Larry Kruse, City Clerk Bridget Miller,
and Finance Director Tina Lannes
PUBLIC HEARING ON TRUTH -IN -TAXATION
City Administrator Kruse began by noting staff prepares and presents a Preliminary Levy and
Budget for Council approval in September of each year. The Preliminary Levy is sent to the
Wright County Auditor/Treasurer's office for record.
The Wright County Auditor/Treasurer shares the information with the Assessor's Office who
uses the information to calculate the 2011 Property Taxes. The proposed 2011 Property Tax
Statements are sent out the end of November and the Council sets a date to hold the Truth -in -
Taxation hearing.
Kruse went on to explain that expenses have been reduced substantially for the past several
years. In 2010, the City employee's wages were frozen and some capital maintenance was
postponed. Building was down in 2009 and 2010 with more attention dedicated toward housing
maintenance, rental licensing, and code enforcement. Vacant properties in foreclosure need to be
managed; therefore, Council passed a Vacant Property Registration ordinance to make sure
neighborhoods don't deteriorate.
Finance Director Lannes informed the Council that your total tax capacity is based on a formula
used by the County. There are certain percentages used to calculate out the residential and a
MAPublic Data\City Council\Council Minutes\2010 Minutes\M 12-06-10 t-n-t approved.doc
City of Albertville
Truth -in -Taxation
City December 6, 2010
Page 2 of 2
percentage is used to calculate the commercial. It is taking the average of the tax capacity how
the formula is calculated.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Council member Sorensen shared his comments on the proposed property tax statement.
Sorensen noticed that the market or value of his property went down, yet the City portion of
taxes went up more than what was proposed in September that was 5.32%. Sorensen contacted
City Administrator Kruse who gave him a very thorough explanation as to how the property
taxes are broken out into the various entities such as how much goes to the School, how much
goes to the County, and how much goes to the City.
Wagner, Vetsch, and Klecker compared the value of their property and how much their property
taxes either went up or down. All members came to the conclusion that Albertville's tax base
varies from neighborhood to neighborhood.
There were no other residents from the Albertville city limits that wanted to discuss their
proposed 2011 property taxes.
ADJOURN
CMs Fay/Sorensen motioned to adjourn the Monday, December 6, 2010 regular City Council
meeting at 6:39 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
f
Bridget Miller, ity Clerk (recording secretary)
MAPublic Data\City Council\Council Minutes\2010 Minutes\M 12-06-10 t-n-t approved.doc