89-54 WNITE - CITV CLERK II
P��jA -FINANCE ! CITY OF SAINT PAUL Council /�
CAf1ARY -OEPARTMENT . �Ja
BLUE -MAVOR F1Ie NO. � ��
� Ordinance N�.
Presented By �
Referred To Committee: Date
Out of Committee By� Date
WHEREAS, the citizens of Saint Paul deserve and receive a high
level of qual�ity public services,
WHEREAS, Sain�t Paul ' s reliance upon the property tax has
increased asla result of federal cutbacks, state funding
limitations a�nd a decrease in the local franchise fee , and
WHEREAS, in olyder to limit the increase in property taxes, the
City has red�ced spending significantly, increased fees and
charges, and 'Iaggressively expanded the property tax base, and
WHEREAS , thejburden on different classes of property in
Saint Paul dc�es not equitably reflect commensurate use of
public servic�es, and
WHEREAS, the �State Legislature passed property tax reform
measures in ]�989 which do not provide enough property tax
relief, and I
WHEREAS, thelCity of Saint Paul and the Coalition of Greater
Minnesota Ciities are cooperating in a joint research effort on
property tax$s, and
WHEREAS, a p�operty tax reform proposal should meet the
following ob,�ectives:
* Equi y. Taxpayers should pay similar tax rates for
simi�ar levels of service.
* Equa ization. Community property tax bases should be
equa ized in order to enhance equity.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Yeas Nays Requested by Department of:
Dimond
�� In Favor
Goswitz
Rettman
�be;�� i Against By
Sonnen
�Ison
� Form Approved by City Attorney
Adopted by Council: Dat�
Certified Passed by Council Se�retary BY
By I
Approved by Mayor: Date I Approv May f u ' sion to Council `
By I
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WMITE - CITV CLERK t
PIIy�=.� -�/INANCE I COUlICll /�///��j /�
BIUERr-MAVpqTMENT I CITY O� SAINT PAUL File NO.� v
' E 4 L U T I 0 N
Ordinance N�.
Presented By
Referred To Committee: Date
Out of Committee Byl Date
apartment
* Comm rcial and IndustriaL�and non-homestead
resi ential property tax rates should be reduced.
* Disp rity between tax burdens on high and low value
home should be reduced.
* Homedwners should continue to receive preferential
t r e a m e n t t h r o u g h ��r}.�-�trrrc��rrg--a-sa�_-���_. state property tax
relie r rams. law
* The tructure of the tax�� should be changed in
orde to provide state and local governments with
incre�ased budget control and stability.
* Long-�term property tax relief.
* Retaijn Local Government Aid or provide commensurate
fundiing at a stable level .
THEREFORE, BE� IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul support
recommendatio s that will meet the objectives described, and
directs City obbying staff to work on legislation which will
accomplish thbse objectives.
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COUNCIL MEMBERS
Yeas Nays Requested by Department of:
Dimond
��g I—�1 In Favor
Goswitz
Rettman
Scheibel I 8 Against BY
Sonnen
Wilson
Adopted by Council: Date � �e ' � I�89 Form pprov by i Attorney
Certified Pass un il Secretl' By � y�
. By �
Appro y Mayor: Da -
Ja�) j ,� 9ci9 Approve Mayo for u m ion to Council
B
p!lt�,�S}� �.�s;`� �' �. 198�
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WHEREAS , t�he citizens of Saint Paul deserve and receive a high
level of �uality public services,
WHEREAS, �aint Paul' s reliance upon the property ta�: has
increasedIas a result of federal cutbacks, state funding
limitatio�j►s and a decrease in the local franchise fee, and
WHEREAS, �.n order to limit the increase in property taxes , 'the
City has educed spending significantly, increased fees and
charges, �nd aggressively expanded the property tax base, and
WHEREAS, Ihe burden on different classes of property in
Saint Pau� does not equitably reflect commensurate use of
public se�vices, and
WHEREAS, he State Legislature passed property tax reform
measures �n 1989 which do not provide enough property tax
relief , a�d
M WHEREAS, �he City of Saint Paul and the Coalition of Greater
MinnesotalCities are cooperating in a joint research effort on
property �axes , and
WHEREAS , $ propert�� ta� reform proposal should meet the
followinglobjectives:
* E uity. Taxpayers should pay similar tax rates for
s�milar levels of service.
. * E�ualization. Community property tax bases should be
e�ualized in order to enhance equity.
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* Co mercial and Industrial , apartment and non-homestead
re�identiai property tax rates should be reduced.
* Di�parity between tax burdens on high and low value
ho�es should be reduced.
* Hotheowners should continue to receive preferential
tr�atment through state property tax relief programs.
* Th structure of the tax law should be changed in
or er to provide state and local governments with
in reased budget control and stability.
* Lorig-term property tax relief.
* Re�.ain Local Government Aid or provide commensurate
fur�ding at a stable level .
THEREFORE, IBE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul support
recommendat�ions that will meet the objectives described, and
directs City lobbyin� staff to work on legislation which will
accomplishlthose objectives.
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WHEREAS , th�e citize
ns of Saint Paul deserve and receive a high
level of qu�ality public services,
WHEREAS, Sajint Paul' s reliance upon the property tax has
increased a�s a result of federal cutbacks, state funding
limitations� and a decrease in the local franchise fee, and
WHEREAS, ir►i order to limit the increase in property taxes, 'the
City has re uced spending significantly, increased fees and
charges, an�d aggressively expanded the property tax base, and
" WHEREAS, th�e burden on different classes of property in
Saint Paul �does not equitably reflect commensurate use of
public serv�ices, and
WHEREAS, th�e State Legislature passed property tax reform
measures ini� 1989 which do not provide enough property tax
relief, andi
WHEREAS , th� City of Saint Paul and the Coalition of Greater
Minnesota C�.ties are cooperating in a joint research effort on
property ta�Ces , and
WHEREAS, a Iroperty tax reform proposal should meet the
following o�jectives:
* Equ�ty. Taxpayers should pay similar tax rates for
sim�lar levels of service.
* Equ�lization. Community property tax bases should be
equ�lized in order to enhance equity.
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* Com�ercial and Industrial , apartment and non-homestead
res�dentiai property tax rates should be reduced.
* Disparity between tax burdens on high and low value
hom s should be reduced.
* Hom owners should continue to receive preferential
tre tment through state propert.y tax relief programs,�
* The structure of the tax law should be changed in
ord�r to provide state and local governments with
incneased budget control and stability.
* Lon�-term property tax relief.
* Ret�in Local Government Aid or provide commensurate �
funding at a stable level .
THEREFORE, $E IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul support
recommendat�ons that will meet the objectives described, and
directs City lobbying staff to work on legislation which will
accomplish #hose objectives.
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" .�� `�� �' GITY OF SAINT PAUL
`"`���'"'�1` ' OFFICE OF TAE CITY COUNCIL
�e,. .s.9
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'" ' James Scheibel, Chair
Committee of the Whole
iDate: January 9, 1989
COMMITTEE REPORT
To: SAINT PAUL �ITY COUNCIL
From: CITY COUN�IL LEGISLATION COMMITTEE �
1. MSA Street S�andards
COMMITTEE RE�OMMENDED APPROVAL
2. Tax Status o� City and HRA-Owned Parking Ramps
COMMITTEE RE�OMMENDED APPROVAL (3 - 1 vote)
3. The Year of he City
COMMITTEE RE�OMMENDED APPROVAL
4. �, n
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-�cortrt��r� � ' rt�.xt�;°
5. Fingerprinti�g of Firefighters
COMMITTEE RE(�OMMENDED LAYOVER TO A FEBRUARY DATE
6. Bonding Allodation
COMMITTEE RE(�OMMENDED APPROVAL
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CTTY HALL � SEVENTH FLOOR SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102
Sy�46
.'. ., ' F3RICEING PAP1:R: PPOPERTY TAX REFOR�1 �,
� ISSUES ' . ___._
1988 C�.tv of Saint Paul Action
Duringlthe 1988 legislative session, the City undertook the� �
first �ffort of its kind by contracting with Briggs and
Morgan, the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and the
City o� Minneapolis in order to: design a property tax reform
package to present to the 1988 State Legislature, and to
analyz the impact of various proposals upon the City of
Saint �aul. Although the proposal that the three
organi ations presented to the Legislature did not pass in its. .
origina�l form, a majority of the goals of the organizations �
were m�t. The 1989 and 1990 property tax laws provided
prefer ntial treatment for homeowners ; property tax rate
� equali�ation was accomplished; burdens on higher valued homes
were r duced; and structural reform of the system to provide
more s�ability for both the state and local units of
government occurred. � �
1988 St�ate Le�islative Action
Ma.ior dhan�es to the Pavable 88 Law ( for Pavable 89 )
1. Ta Ca acities
Description: Assessment rates have been replaced by tax
capacities. Each class of property is assigned a net � and
grolss tax capacity. In most cases, the percentages � have
� bee!n set to reflect the effective tax rate (dollar/market
.,� value of the property) on property with a 1988 mill rate
' � of 127 . They are not caps or limits, however.
' Im act: There is a substantial tax reduction for
homlestead market value between .$68-100 ,000 and the range
� for commercial/industrial relief has been extended f rom �
thelfirst 560,000 to the first $100 ,000 of market value. _
2. Tax Ca acit Rates .
Descri tion: Mill rates� have been replaced by tax
cap city rates, but are expressed as a percentage, i.e. if
a c�ity' s levy is 25% of its total (city, county, school
dis�trict, etc. ) tax capacity, its new tax capacity rate is
25Ji) .
Im ct: If all the taxing jurisdictions ' levies exceed
100 of tax capacity,'� the actual effective tax rates on �
various classes of property �.will be higher than the tax
cap city rates; if under 100%, the actual effective tax
rat�es on the properties will be lower than their tax � �
capacity ratios.
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3 . Disparity Reduction Aid •
Des ri tion: Aid is designed to "buy-down" tax rates to
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.. .. I�ricfi � PaPer. : Property Ta� Reform .
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12 equalized mills (or provide relief for taxin� ` �"'"-
jut�isdictions Which have an effective tax rate of more
than 1% on the first $68 ,000 of homestead market value) . •
Ma ket values and tax rates are adjusted for sales ratios
in calculating the aid. Aid is calculated for each taxing
di tricl. and is not paid directly to the district. The
co nty auditor is instructed to reduce tax rates in that
di�trict by the amount of disparity aid allocated, based
upon 1988 tax rates and 1988 estimated market values.
Im act: Disparity aid is paid to local governments as a
re mbursement, like homestead credit. School debt is not
in luded in calculating the aid, so it is possible that
th re will be effective tax rates �which will exceed tax '
ca�acities. This is the element of the bill that the
. Mu#�icipal�.•Legislative Commission (MLC) is suing on
comstitutional grounds. The MLC indicates that depending
up ' n the community one type of property may receive the
pr perty tax relief, whereas the same type of property �
lo ated in another community may not.
� 4. Lo�al Government Aid
De�cription: The LGA formula is redes�gned. An initial
"ci.ty revenue guarantp" is calculated based upon city size
� (w�th additional assistance for cities outside the metro
ar a, cities with declining populations and first class
ci ies) . A city revenue amount is also calculated which
is the sum of the city' s certified levy 1988 and its 1988
LGt# amount. �
'�` Im act: The higher a city's actual revenue, compared to
it ' "revenue guaranty, " the lower the aid increase, which
is generally 2-9% of total city revenue. A minimum aid
in rease of 2% of 1988 LGA is provided to 'those cities
� wi h a relatively high tax ca�acity and low revenue
gu��anty. -
. 5 . Ad itional Equalization Aid
. De cri tion: Additional aid is based upon local revenue
� ne d and is available to cities with population greater
' th n 2 ,500 .
� Im act: Generally available to cities with a below
average ($1, 900) tax capacity per household. _
6. Le Limits �
De cri tion: The new levy limit base is equal to the
co nties and cities (over 2, 500 ) actual payable .l988 levy :
pl s local government aid and exempts pension and debt "
se�vice costs and payable 1988 special levies. Base
.. in¢reases 4% for 1989 and 59� for 1990. .
Im act: Levy increases will be very limited. .
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, Bril,e f iei� Paper: Property Taa Peform
. . � i�age 3
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7. T.a.r�eted Assistance " �
Des ri tion: P'or homestead ta�:es payable in 1989 , a .
tar eted credit for any increuses of 10% over the net
property taxes payable in 1988 of $40 or more is paid by
thelstate to the property owner. The refund is equal to
?5%' of L•he amount by which the increase exceeds LO% but
. can#�ot exceed $250.
Not : The Homestead Credit and Agricultural Credit remain
in �lace in payable 1989, except seasonal recreation
pro erty does not receive any agricultural aid in payable
198�. The Homestead Credit for payable 1989 keeps $68 ,000
as �he base , but increases the credit from $700 to $?25 .
� Pav_ ab1eT1990 Tax Law Chan�es
1. Hom stead �Credit and A ricultural Guarant
Eac taxing district is guaranteed that the amount they
rec ive from the sum of education aids, transition and �
dis�arity aids, local government aid and income
mai tenance aids will be greater. than current agricultural
and�homestead credits. If aid amounts do not ekceed the
gua anteed level, additional aid will be provided.
Rep�aces the current h'omestead and agricultural credit .
pro rams with an amount that is greater, however, it is --
pai� for by shifts on properties, not by the state.
2 . Tra�sition Aid
Fun ing for transition aid comes from the current '
, hom�stead and agricultural credit program and is designed -_
to revent tax burden shifts due to the use of net tax --
cap�cities (starting in 1990 ) rather than gross tat
cap�cities . Transition aid is the product of the gross
tax 1989 minus ( tax .capacity x homestead effective tax
rat� x 103 ) .
3 . Dis �arit Reduction Aid "
Amo nt is frozen at 1989 level. • " - ""
� 4 . Loc�l Government Aid and Additional Equalization Aid
� ' Sam formula as 1989 but increased aid is only one-half of
the�increased amount in 1989.
" 5 . Wel�are Takeover - '
Adm��nistrative costs for income maintenance will be paid
forlby the state. Ttie transition aid amounts received by
the counties will be allocated to pay for these income
mair�tenance costs. �
6 . Trut�h in Taxation
� Taxpayers are to receive early written notification of ..
pro�osed levy increases by local• governments and must be
giv�n the opportunity to participate in public hearings.
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._ ,. BZ icf ' ng Pa.per: Propert-y Tas Ret'orm
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State legislation is needed to reform the system. The City of
SaintlPaul has participated with the League of Minnesota •
Citie�, the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities , the �
Associ!ation of Small Cities , the Coalition of Greuter
Minnes�ota Cities, the Municipal Legislative Commission, and .
� the City of Minneapolis in order to prepare a joint property
tax relform position to be presented before the 1989
Legislature. Due to the fact that the suburbs wanted
homestead credit reinstated in some dedicated form, and given
the fa�ct that the City of Saint Paul and the Coalition of
Greater Minnesota Cities focused upon property tax
equalilzation, whic:� does not provide direct homestead relief,
the efifort was unsuccessful.
For the 1989 session, the City of Saint Paul hired Briggs and
. Morganl' to provide research and to assist the City and the
Coalitlion of Greater Minnesota Cities in identifying a r
proper�ty tax reform proposal that was balanced enough to be
seriou�sly considered. The Coalition and the City are in the
. proces of preparing that reform package; however, discussions
focus �pon giving priority to commercial/industrial property,
non-ho esteaded residential and apartment pro-perties, as well --
as con�inuing state funding for property "tax ` relief.
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` CITY OF SAINT PAUL POSITION _ .
City l�bbs•ing staff is directed to work on such legislation in
1989 .
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WHEREASI� the citizens of Saint Paul deserve and receive a high
level o� quality public services,
WHEREASI� Saint Paul' s reliance upon the property .tax has
increas�d as a result of federal cutbacks, state funding
limitat ons and a decrease in the local franchise fee, and
WHEREAS� in order to limit the increase in property taxes, �the
City ha� reduced spending significantly, increased fees and .
charges� and aggressively expanded the property tax base, and
WHEREAS ! the burden on different classes of property in
_ Saint P�ul -does not equitably r.eflect�commensurate use of
public �ervices, and
WHEREAS � the State Legislature passed property tax reform
� measure� in 1989 which do not provide enough property tax
relief, land •
'�= WHEREASI the City of Saint Paul and the Coalition of Greater
Minnesoi�a Cities are cooperating in a joint research effort on
propert� taxes, and
WHEREAS� a property tax reform proposal should meet the _
followic�g objectives:
* I� Equity. Taxpayers should pay similar tax rates for
! similar levels of service. .
. . * �IEqualization. Community property tax bases should be
,equalized in order to enhance equity. ~
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� C mmercial and Industrial and non-homestead � ,
r�sidential property tax rates should be reduced.
* Disparity between tax burdens on high and low value
mes.should be reduced.
. * Homeowners should continue to receive preferential _
treatment through publiC funding assistance. '
* �he structiire of the tax base should be changed in
rder to provide state � and local governments with
i'�ncreased budget control and stability. ,
* Long-term property tax relief. _
* etain Local Government Aid or provide commensurate
�unding at a stable level..
� _ THEREFOR�, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul support
"� recommendations that will meet the objectives described, and
directs ity �lobbying staff to work on legislation which will
accompli�h those objectives.
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