[Speed Gibson,
Monday November 19, 2007 at 11:40pm]
The Way Things Ought to Be
I serve in two of my city's volunteer positions, one being the Financial Commission that helps the staff and Council put together the annual budget. We're all but done with the 2008 budget and I'm very proud to say that this is an open, honest, competently run process here in Brooklyn Center.
We are one of the exceptions to the general criticism of all governmental units with the power to tax. Maybe most cities are better than we generally think, in fact, Minneapolis and St. Paul excepted. Jason Lewis would be amazed to learn that our 2007 headcount is about 10 less than in 2001.
Like most first ring suburbs, we have challenges, many owing to the willful neglect of Minneapolis and cheap land in outer ring suburbs. There are gentle disagreements on specific items, like the municipal golf course. But we disagree on direction, not the numbers.
I have two thoughts. One, I wish that public school financing would be this transparent, i.e., complete and understandable, both generally and in detail.
Two, I see now how oddly complex the property tax rates and assessments are, mostly thanks to the Legislature, always tweaking in the name of "fairness."
We are one of the exceptions to the general criticism of all governmental units with the power to tax. Maybe most cities are better than we generally think, in fact, Minneapolis and St. Paul excepted. Jason Lewis would be amazed to learn that our 2007 headcount is about 10 less than in 2001.
Like most first ring suburbs, we have challenges, many owing to the willful neglect of Minneapolis and cheap land in outer ring suburbs. There are gentle disagreements on specific items, like the municipal golf course. But we disagree on direction, not the numbers.
I have two thoughts. One, I wish that public school financing would be this transparent, i.e., complete and understandable, both generally and in detail.
Two, I see now how oddly complex the property tax rates and assessments are, mostly thanks to the Legislature, always tweaking in the name of "fairness."