The City of Crookston Truth in Taxation presentation and public hearing was held on Monday night.
The council chambers held more than fifty concerned Crookston residents, and nearly twenty took the podium and spoke to the council members. The City of Crookston Finance Director Audrey Passa presented the Truth in Taxation.
Heading into the presentation, the total levy increase was set at 24.179%, which equates to nearly $800,000 more in expenditures from last year’s budget. The estimated City Tax rate was set at 72.377%, an 8% increase from last year’s 64.322%. Many Crookston residents were in attendance regarding their preliminary property tax on each homestead.
Each homestead will be taxed differently based on the home’s market value. For example, the presentation showed that houses estimated at $150,000 would receive a net tax capacity of $1,263 with a proposed property tax (increase in taxes) of $914. (You can find the full chart of estimated costs at the bottom of the article).
During the presentation, residents were shown all the capital improvements and other features the city would gain with the extra tax dollars. These improvements included street improvements, department equipment improvement, garbage services, fully staffing police officers and Firefighters, sidewalks, and signage.
“I thought the public hearing was very well attended; the public had some points as a group that they wanted us to consider,” said City Administrator Corky Reynolds, “I think I believe they want us to consider as a city how any increase impacts individuals in our community.”
Reynolds also explained what transpired during the forum, with community members reiterating the community’s needs to the council. “There was discussion about needing better streets, and needing better items in the community, creating jobs,” said Reynolds, “I think they showed up to reemphasize to the council the necessity always to be aware of what increases and levies and taxes mean as a practical sense to the majority of citizens in Crookston.”
OPEN FORUM RECAP
The city’s total budget is estimated at $11.2 million, and the city is estimated to receive $7.5 million in revenue. The city will receive $437,000 more in LGA (Local Government Aid) funding. Most people who spoke during the forum expressed their issues with the overall levy and the preliminary property tax statements sent in the mail a few weeks back. Polk County Commissioner and long-time Crookston resident Gary Willhite spoke during the public forum and explained his thoughts regarding the city’s levy. “I think what shocked everyone is when the council recommended a 65% increase,” said Willhite, “And also seeing the increase in LGA funding, I was saying, ‘Geez, what is going on here?’ yeah they got it down to 24%, but I think, and a lot of others think yeah these things would be nice to have, but they’re not needs.”
Willhite also explained that the community seems to be struggling with inflation and everyday costs, and this levy could be detrimental to people’s budgets.
Crookston resident Brianna Fritz also spoke on the forum and asked the council how much is allocated toward the Parks and Recreation budget. Some of the capital improvements may not be in the city’s best interest as of right now. “They’ve been looking at building some fences in the baseball field area,” said Fritz, “I feel like when you look back, kids have been playing without those fences, and honestly, the more fences that go up, the more you have to walk around and avoid them and that’s physically difficult for me, so I know it’s difficult for the elderly people as well.”
The council also heard from Bill Humiston, who explained his issues with the board regarding the significant jump in the levy and the approach council members are taking to improve the city and offer competitive wages. “I understand we want to be competitive but can afford to be competitive,” said Humiston, “This seems to be one thing that government does not do well. It doesn’t stop to consider if we cannot afford such things. We’re figuring that we can spend it and borrow it again in the future, and you’d think that we’d know that’s something that doesn’t work by now.”
Click here to view the Truth in Taxation packet, including the tax percentage.
To watch the whole Truth and Taxation hearing, click here.
