HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 Edition 01 June B OOKLYN CITY
CENTER M
NEWS & VIEWS
MAY VICE HELP YOU? It is a principle of democracy that
government exists by and for the people. To every
reasonable extent, it is the policy of this Administration
to practice according to that principle. if you are in need
of a 'service which we are authorized to perform, call us. 1 U N E , 1 -9 7 0 N o . 1.
TAXES!! TAXES!! TAXES!! COUNTY Then there is the County. Some people
aren't even aware that the County has a
BOARD stake in their property tax woes. It does.
Confusion? Controversy? Irritation? 171/2( Matter of fact, the Hennepin County Board
These three words are often related to the subject of is entitled to about 17 1 / 1 2f worth of your tax
property taxes. Much of the confusion, controversy and concern. That's how much the tax rate set by your County
irritation exists because the property tax is basically in- Board of Commissioners takes from each property tax dollar.
equitable and in some cases is becoming confiscatory. The County tax levy also includes a fraction of a penny
Property taxing procedures tend to be complicated. None- for the new Metropolitan Council, Mosquito Control District
theless, many citizens don't take time to inform themselves. and County Park Museum.
Consequently, maybe some of the confusion and resulting SMALL Many are surprised to discover that the
irritation could be considered self - inflicted. Let's examine Brooklyn Center government operates on a
some basic points of property taxation. SHARE FOR small share of their property tax dollar. City
BROOKLYN Councilmen are acutely aware of the small
CENTER share. Particularly, because many people
Who Sets Property Tax Rates? wrongly hold them accountable for tax rates
Our first impulse upon receiving the an- which are independently set by others.
'CITY nual property tax bill is to call the Mayor To illustrate, only $85 of the total $681 tax on a typical
COUNCIL or City Councilmen to register displeasure. $22,000 house goes to run City government during 1970.
Fine! But, give them only 12 1 /2¢ worth of This amounts to $7 per month if you pay your tax with
your displeasure. That's all they are entitled monthly mortgage payments. Comparatively, $477 goes to
to. Why? Because the tax rate set by your Brooklyn Center the school district while Hennepin County gets $119.
City Council takes only about 12 1 /2¢ out of each property
tax dollar you pay.
Some of us are tempted to blame the City Tax Assessor What IS Property Tax Money Used For?
for our woes. That's a waste of good effort because he Brooklyn Center government returns its share of your
doesn't set tax rates. He just determines the worth of tax dollar in the form of basic services—police and fire
your property. He performs that task according to rather protection, street plowing and maintenance, parks and recre-
rigid state guidelines. ation services, zoning and building control, plus a myriad
Most of us are apt to occasionally forget of other governmental services.
SCHOOL that our fine school systems cost a bundle Your School District returns its share of your property
BOARD of money. Few of us would deny our kids tax dollar by educating the kids. The schools serve as the
70e a good education. But being humans, we focal points of many neighborhood activities, too.
sometimes prefer to close our eyes to the County Hennepin
reality that good education takes about 70¢ of each property p ty government provides less visible services
—welfare, courts and correction, tax collection and
tax dollar we pay. Approximately 1¢ goes to the vocational ruction
school system. 69¢ goes for the support of local school and maintenance of the county highways.
land records, sheriff's services, as well as construction
districts. Your Board of Education, not the City Council,
and
sets that tax rate.
Why Are Property Taxes Increasing So?
Inflation, increasing population and increasing need for
services are the three main reasons for the skyrocketing
A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO YOU
of property taxes.
From DONALD G. POSS, City Manager Inflation increases the cost of goods, materials and labor.
You may be one of a number of people who, in one way Providing government services involves these three items.
or another, has expressed a desire to be further informed In fact, the major portion of government and school system
about Brooklyn Center governmental affairs. It is hoped that costs is attributable to labor.
periodic News & Views such as this will be of assistance. Population increases create additional problems such
It is not intended that these News & Views will supplant as the need for more government educational services.
or compete with public news media reporting. Neither are A lot of high- powered studies are underway. Reform of
they intended to be the customarily boring bureaucratic property tax laws by the State Legislature is long overdue.
chronicling of achievements. Disparities in tax base from community to community must
Instead, emphasis will be on matters which are of current be examined —presently the rich get richer and the poor
concern or interest to you. Some matters may be controver- get poorer. (Continued on Next Page)
sial. If so, drop us a note expressing your opinion. Con-
structive criticism is welcome.
TAXES (Continued) HOUSING MAINTENANCE CODE
PROPOSED FOR BROOKLYN CENTER
What Can Be Done?
Preventive steps are necessary if Brooklyn Center is to
There is no magic solution! Some advocate the ultra - simple avoid the housing blight and deterioration of neighborhoods
solution—cut spending. Fine, as long as we are willing to now evident in the central cities.
accept the reality of reduced services. Many groups and individuals have endorsed the concept
Cynics think service reduction is an idle bureaucratic of a newly - proposed Housing and Maintenance Code. The
threat. It's not an idle threat, it's common sense. proposed code is designed to establish minimum standards
There are many who aren't willing to incur the incon- to assure that our housing can age gracefully.
veniences and possible physical hardships which could result It is important to distinguish the difference between the
from reduction of services. Of course, they're not overjoyed existing Building Code and the proposed Housing Mainten-
with their annual property tax either. ante Code.
Maybe there is a fairer way to pay for some government In the first instance, the Building Code establishes stand -
services. Some way other than the property tax. ards for constructing a house. The Housing Maintenance
The property tax is unfair because it is regressive. An Code establishes minimum standards for the upkeep and
owner is penalized by higher taxes when he improves the maintenance of living units built under the terms of the
value of his property. Owners with fixed incomes, usually Building Code.
older people living on Social Security, are hardest hit by Some misconceptions about the proposed Housing Main -
the property tax. tenance Code have been expressed. For instance, it has been
alleged that the proposed Housing Maintenance Code will
outlaw basement bedrooms and suddenly subject owners
to a penalty. Not so! !
PUT YOUR TAXES IN PERSPECTIVE The City Building Code has always required two exits
from a basement bedroom and basement bedrooms with
Few of us total u the annual taxes we
p pay—Federal , only one exit have always been improper. The regulation is
State, County, School District and City. Consequently, most commen sense. Reports abound, locally and nationally, of
of us don't have a clear perspective of where our tax children burning to death in basement bedrooms with only
dollar goes. Let's look at a 1970 example: one means of exit.
• Couple with 2 dependent children The schedule of public hearings to be held on the new
• Homesteading a $22,000 house in Osseo School District 279 Housing Maintenance Code will be announced in local news-
• Gross annual income of $10,000 papers. Upon request you may secure a copy of the proposed
code for review in advance of the hearings.
• Federal and State deductions amounting to $2,000
• Federal and State sales and excise taxes not included
BURGLARS NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE;
Taxing Total Distribution of
Jurisdiction Tax Tax Dollar DON'T MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM!
Federal Income .............. $ 1016 490 Perhaps some of us experience a sense of alarm at
State Income 310 150 the increasing incidence of house burglaries. Particularly if
a burglary occurs within our neighborhood. More particu-
School District ............... 527 260 larly if our house is burglarized.
Hennepin County ............. 119 6¢ Unfortunately, there is not enough concern within Brook -
City of Brooklyn Center ...... 85 40 lyn Center. Our Police Department contends that most
daylight burglaries are carried out brazenly and openly in
$ 2057 100¢ full view of the neighborhood. The burglars count on the
reluctance of neighbors to report strange happenings to the
Knowledge of our tax dollar distribution doesn't diminish police. In many instances, nothing less than a truck would
the effect of the "bite ". It does permit you to make a be adequate to haul away the stolen articles. Yet, few
value judgment of your taxes. burglaries in process are reported to the police.
Don't be apprehensive about reporting strange activities
in your neighborhood. Help the police help you!
BROOKLYN CENTER PROPERTY
REVALUATION AND EQUALIZATION
State law requires local assessors to review and determine
property values every two years. Brooklyn Center Assessor BACKYARD BURNING BANNED
John Nordberg is now engaged in such a biennial review ;
to determine the official current market value of your pro- INCINERATORS RESTRICTED
perty. Although you already have a pretty good idea of
what your property is worth, his adjusted valuations will A new City Ordinance bans backyard burning after July 1,
be used for calculating taxes to be paid in 1971 and 1972. 1970. Wood - burning fireplaces and food - barbecuing fires are
Nordberg is also engaged in gathering data on all pro- exempted from the ban. Burning barrels and other burning
perties for equalization purposes. devices must be removed from any premises prior to
Equalization is a process designed to assure that you January 1, 1971.
don't pay a disproportionate tax compared to your neighbors.
The equalization process is based upon an accurate in- Commercial -type incinerators cannot be operated after
ventory of all properties. January 1, 1971, unless they conform to State regulations
It can be expected that the Assessor or his representative and receive a State operating permit. Very few incinerators
will call on you during 1970 to inspect your property. in Brooklyn Center meet the new regulations.
NEW BROOKYN CENTER EARLE BROWN FARM CHANGES;
CAPITAL PROJECTS PROGRESS INDUSTRIAL PARK DEVELOPING
Erection of Brooklyn Center's new Com- The long - planned development of the old Earle Brown
civic munity Center and City Hall is underway on Farm in Brooklyn Center is now underway: $1.5 million in
CENTER- the old Earle Brown Farm. Contracts were utilities and streets were installed in 1969 to service the
awarded in March. We should be swimming budding Brooklyn Plaza Industrial Park there.
in the huge new pool by late fall 1971. A
display and model of the Civic Center is being exhibited at This year will see Xerxes Avenue paved part -width be-
various locations throughout the City during the ensuing tween the Freeway and 69th Avenue. Other streets in the
year. Take the opportunity to see it. Industrial Park, such as Shingle Creek Parkway, 65th Avenue
and James Avenue, will also be paved.
1E Nearly completed is the new City Fire Bids will be awarded this month for a new bridge to be
dTATAQN Station across from Brooklyn Center High built over Highway 100, opposite Northbrook Shopping
p School at 65th and Dupont Avenues. So too, Center, to provide additional access to the Industrial Park.
is the new City Garage located along 69th
Avenue at Shingle Creek. Both buildings are Early Tenants Named
scheduled for occupancy late this summer.
Lon awaited new The Industrial Park, known as Brooklyn Plaza, is genera -
g parks will soon be
MEIN available for use on the east and west sides ting some major tenants:
of Palmer Lake. So too, at 70th and Lyndale • Northwestern Bell Telephone has occupied an attractive 2 -story
PARKS Avenues, Fire House Park at 65th and Bryant building housing 400 employees.
Avenues, and Freeway Park at 67th and • Brooklyn Center Development Corporation has erected and leased
Beard Avenues. It's expected that the newly - installed athle- 2 large buildings and 2 similar structures are scheduled this
tic field lights in Grandview Park at 59th and Humboldt summer.
Avenues will illuminate many night baseball games this Brooklyn Center municipal summer. Take time out to see a game. rooY P garage is nearing completion.
• Brooklyn Center Civic Center is under construction.
• A Holiday Inn is scheduled for construction this summer at 65th
HENNEPIN COUNTY /BROOKLYN CENTER and Humboldt Avenues.
LIBRARY EXPANSION PLANNED • A State Form Insurance claims office is in the planning stage.
The Brooklyn Center library, built in 1965, is scheduled * Various other business developments are in negotiating and
talking stages.
to be expanded in size in 1973. Land for the expansion will
be acquired north of the existing site.
Hennepin County, which bought the library from Brooklyn
Center last year, has designated the facility to be one of BROOKLYN CENTER ACQUIRING SEVEN
four regional libraries in the County. The new library will PARCELS OF LAKESHORE
offer you 150,000 volumes; the present one, only 30,000.
Library services have proved highly popular with many Steps are now being taken by Brooklyn Center to buy
Brooklyn Center citizens. The additional services to be seven parcels of land along the shores of Upper and Lower
offered by the new facility are expected to generate even Twin Lakes.
wider use and popularity. On May 26, 1969, the Brooklyn Center City Council gave
If you are one of the few who has not yet visited the the green light to seek Federal, State and County assistance
Brooklyn Center library, do so. You will find it enjoyable. funds for the project. Word was received in January that
the Federal Government would grant $69,575.
APARTMENT DWELLERS It is planned that the new parkland additions will be
devoted to relatively low- intensity activities such as canoe
SECOND CLASS CITIZENS? launching, hiking, possibly some camping on the island,
some picknicking, and just communing with nature.
A few of us are inclined to exhibit a bit of snobbishness Acquisition of these seven parcels will add 30 acres of
insofar as the matter of apartment dwellers is concerned. park land to the existing 456 acres in the Brooklyn Center
It is not unusual for someone at public meetings to some- park system.
what disdainfully characterize apartment dwellers as "tran-
sients" or "just renters ".
Contrary to the all- too - popular belief, most apartment
dwellers are the same as you and me. The major distinction ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN EXPRESSED
is that they have chosen a slightly different life style. Environmental pollution is the subject of the day—And
Perhaps the apartment -life style has been forced on with good reason. Statistics indicate that we humans are on
some by the severe housing shortage, or by the present the brink of eradicating ourselves from the face of the earth.
high initial cost of home ownership. On the other hand,
perhaps some have intentionally exchanged home ownership Pollution concern has been expressed locally in numerous
with its attendant time - consuming responsibilities for less- Ways. As a consequence, industries must begin to change
demanding apartment living. procedures and citizens must adapt to changes.
Taxes? Apartment dwellers indirectly pay property taxes The City Council has adopted state regulations against
through their rent. backyard burning. Commercial incinerators in town must
Community interest? Many apartment dwellers have be greatly improved in efficiency or shut down.
made and are making notable civic contributions. Last December the City Council established a City Con -
Second class citizens? Not at all. servation Commission—the first in the State of Minnesota.
Commission members invite your suggestions and express -
Those living in apartments are invited to participate in ions of interest in our local environment. Mrs. Audre
Brooklyn Center community affairs and are encouraged to Mossberg of 5924 Upton Avenue North is chairman of the
avail themselves of the services Brooklyn Center has to offer. Commission.
i NEW SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DEADLINE
BROOKLYN CENTER WALKWAY NETWORK?
Are you planning to completely pay off the special
The City Council will soon be considering a Walkway assessments on your property during 1970?
network proposal to serve the City. It is intended that the If so, please note that payment must be made at the
$1,590,000 network will connect major points of potential City offices prior to November 15th if you wish to
pedestrian traffic such as schools, parks and shopping areas. avoid an extra year's interest charge.
It is proposed that the network be installed over a number The deadline was advanced by State law to provide
of years according to a priority schedule. Hennepin County sufficient time to erase the obligation
Advocates of the Walkway proposal contend that the from your succeeding year's tax statement.
pedestrian is the forgotten man in suburbia.
Studies show that nearly three of every four kids attend-
ing schools in Brooklyn Center walk to school. Accident
statistics indicate that 29 pedestrians under age 14 were INDULGE IN NOSTALGIA .
injured in Brooklyn Center during the past three years.
ATTEND OPEN AIR BAND CONCERTS
How many of you have experienced the childhood pleasure
CITY WATER SOFTENING BEING STUDIED of a night -time band concert in the park? ... with the warm
summer air reverberating with the sound of a stimulating
Consulting Engineers are studying the possibility of John Phillip Sousa march? ... and with the delicious aroma
softening the City water supply. A recent survey of Brooklyn of freshly - popped corn wafting on the soft breezes and
Center citizens revealed that 84% of the homes have the tantilizing your nostrils?
use of soft water. Perhaps we can't reproduce those time - embellished child-
hood memories. But it's worth trying.
Studies show that the typical monthly cost of owning The Brooklyn Center Park Department has scheduled
and operating a home softener amounts to approximately five evening concerts by the Brooklyn Center City Band and
$4.70. Softening to 4 -grain hardness (similar to Minneapolis one concert by the Robbinsdale City Band.
water) would cost a typical family approximately 90¢ per For an enjoyable free evening of entertainment, take the
month, if the City water supply was softened. family to one or all of these 8 p.m. Open Air Band Concerts:
City- softened 4 -grain water can be reduced to zero grain June 16 Garden City Park
.. ...............................
hardness if desired. Typically, the combined cost of 4 -grain June 23 " " " " ' Kylown Park
City- softened water, reduced to zero grain hardness by a " ' " " "'
home - softener, would cost approximately $4.60 per month. June 30 . ............................... West Palmer Park
July 7 ............. ......................Grandview Park
July 17 .... ............................... Evergreen Park
KIDS IN STREET = TRAGEDY July 30 .... ............................... Northport Park
You may agree that street - safety conditions have im-
proved over the last ten years. There seem to be fewer MINI -BIKE SEASON ARRIVES
youngsters playing in the streets these days. However,
for safety's sake, there are still too many. Mini -bike owners are warned that it is illegal to operate
their machines upon public streets unless both the mini -bikes
Springtime, especially, seems to generate an array of
and the operators are licensed.
bicycles, tricycles, wagons and buggies in the streets,
g Very few mini -bikes are eligible for licensing by the State
generally operated by youngsters oblivious to the horrible
of Minnesota by reason of failure to meet safety standards.
dangers.
It is urged that concern for the comfort of others be
To avoid tragedy within your family or in your neigh- exercised when operating mini - bikes. The noise generated
borhood, please teach the kids not to play in the street. within a neighborhood can create an intolerable nuisance.
City of Brooklyn Center BULK RATE
U. S. POSTAGE
7100 OSSEO ROAD P A I D
Minneapolis,
BROOKLYN CENTER, MINNESOTA 5:5429 Minnesota
Permit No. 2170
YOUR CITY COUNCIL
Philip Cohen - - - - - - - - - - Mayor
Howard Heck - - - - - - - - Councilman
John Leary - - - - Councilman
Theodore Willard - - - - - - - Councilman
Vernon Ausen - - - - - - - - Councilman
Donald G. Pass - - - - - - - City Manager
BROOKLYN CENTER SERVICE DIRECTORY
Emergency Numbers (24 -Hours a Day) POLICE 561 -5720
FIRE 561-2200
City Hall Offices - - - - - - - 561 -5440
Monday thru Friday-8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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