ANOKA, Minn. (Sept. 12, 2013) – The Anoka County Board approved the preliminary 2014 property tax levy. The board has proposed to cut the net property tax levy by $1 million next year, which will be the third straight year the levy has been reduced.
The $96.5 million dollar levy is comparable to the levy from a decade ago. After a change in leadership on the county board three years ago, the new conservative majority has attempted to “right size” the county government and spearheaded efforts they believe make the county run more efficiently. According to a county press release, paper usage has been cut by 27 percent since 2009 as a result of advancements in technology.
The board has also moved the county to a cash payment system which is resulting in a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in debt service. Included in the 2014 budget:
- More evening hours at the Rum River and Northtown Libraries
- The Ramsey License Center will be open additional morning hours
- The county will launch a new website in the coming year with the priority on mobile access, recognizing that most people access online content via a mobile device
- Obsolete election equipment is being replaced with new technology that is easier for voters and election workers to use and more efficient at counting absentee ballots
In addition, the county is constructing many road projects using concrete rather than asphalt, now that the price of concrete and asphalt has become more comparable. Using concrete doubles the life of the roadway and eliminates the need for crews to repair potholes.
The 2014 Capital Improvement Program includes $5 million in capital investments, a major portion of which is construction of a $35 million interchange at Highway 10 and Armstrong Boulevard in Ramsey. That project is dependent on also receiving state and federal funding.
The 2014 budget and property tax levy will be voted upon after public hearings later this year.
