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ORONO BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING MEETING HELD DECEMBER 3, 1990 <br />assessor is because it has proved thar it is better to do that <br />than have Hennepin County come out and assess the houses." <br />Mr. Bullock asked how that can be when property values have <br />gone up 50%. <br />Acting Mayor Callahan stated that the City does receive <br />information from Hennepin County comparing assessments to <br />property values. <br />Bernhardson added, "Acting Mayor Callahan is correct. Tne <br />assessor values the property. The value he puts on a property is <br />then gauged by Hennepin County. T»iey compare the assessment to <br />the amount for which that property sells. The County determines <br />a ratio using that information and the assessor must adhere to <br />that ratio. If the assessor's ratios fall below that designated <br />by Hennepin County, they will step in and raise everyone up to <br />that level. The assessor tries to assess just above where the <br />sales ratio will be. It is possible for him to make a mistake <br />periodically aid that is the purpose of the Board of Review <br />process." <br />Mr. Ed Kale, Casco Avenue, stated that he purchased his <br />property the taxes were $400. He said, "The place was rat <br />infested and in terrible shape when I bought it. My taxes are <br />now $.1,630 and all I did was clean up the mess. Also, myself and <br />several others have formed a Lakeowncrs Association. Wa have <br />invited every Council around tne lake to attend our meetings. We <br />have had Gen Olson there and she told us that the laws that the <br />Legislature passed would not affect us until this next tax <br />Increase. She said that at that time taxes would increase <br />approximately 25%. I believe she was pretty close. If she knew <br />that a year ago, sc did the City of Orono. However, no one <br />informed the taxpayers of that. I do not believe I have ever <br />seen an Orono Council member at a meeting." <br />Mr. Phil Byers, 3083 Farview Lane, commended the Finance <br />Director on the presentation of the budget. recommended that <br />everyone present should obtain a copy. He said, "It was <br />mentioned that the City's future tax base is uncertain. The <br />projections that are in this budget have been made under a great <br />deal of uncertainty. For example, fuel for the police department <br />will not be the same that it was last year. However, the budget <br />shows it to be the same. When you budget in an environment where <br />the revenue projections turn out to be too high and the expense <br />projections too low, the consequences come close to a crisis. So <br />if we try to prepare a budget with great uncertainty associated <br />with it, we are playing with fire. Consequently, I would ask the <br />Council to consider adopting a procedure of deferring approval of <br />part of the requested increases until June. The budget could be <br />adjusted after reviewing the tax capacity and property value <br />assessments and seeing where the police department fuel <br />- 8 -