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<br />. <br /> <br />) <br /> <br />) <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />Mayor & City Council <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Administrator <br /> <br />September 27, 1999 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Informational Memo <br /> <br />2. <br /> <br />1999 Property Tax Data...The September 1999 Minnesota Cities <br />magazine, which is published by the League of Minnesota Cities, has <br />been distributed to all members. This September edition is of particular <br />interest to most cities as it includes the annual property tax rate <br />information for the current year. I have summarized the population and <br />tax rate information for cities that are generally between 10,000 and <br />20,000 population. The attached summary also includes some School <br />District #728 communities, and some cities in Sherburne County. <br /> <br />The City Council has long had a concern over the city tax rate, its relative <br />ranking to similar communities, and how it compares to cities that we are <br />in competition with for economic development opportunities. The 1999 <br />total city tax rate is 121.1 and this rate compares favorably to the listed <br />communities. Five of the thirty-eight communities listed have a lower <br />over-all tax rate than Elk River. A sixth one (Northfield) is essentially the <br />same, but slightly lower, and a few communities are a percent or two <br />above Elk River. In comparing our ranking this year to last year, we are in <br />approximately the same position, but the "gap" is getting closer. Elk River <br />used to have a very low total tax rate, and this was mainly due to the <br />county having a very low rate compared to other counties, but the times <br />have changed in recent years. The total city tax rate is getting closer to <br />the majority of the cities listed on the attachment due in part to legislative <br />action on compressing the tax classes, and to the growth of the city. We <br />are still in good shape as far as our total tax rate is concerned, but it is not <br />as positive as it was a few years ago. <br /> <br />As an aside, the cities with the largest percentage growth in population in <br />the last year are our neighboring communities of Big Lake (9.6%), Rogers <br />(24%), and Zimmerman (11 %). <br />