The File Cabinet

Lilydale City Council Agenda for Dec. 12

Meeting begins at 4:30 p.m., and the Truth in Taxation hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Lilydale City Council is scheduled to meet 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12 at Lilydale City Hall. The agenda includes an introduction of the new city administrator, Mary Schultz. At 6 p.m., a Truth in Taxation hearing is planned to go over the proposed budget and levy, which is set to be approved following the hearing. A reception at Sunfish Cellars after the meeting is planned to say goodbye to City Administrator Teish Stafne, who is moving to Iowa in the spring. See the full agenda in the attached PDF.

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District 197 Chalk Talk: Levy Approved, Staff and Programs Recognized

The Dec. 5 meeting of the District 197 School Board, in brief.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board approved the payable 2012 property tax levy Monday night following the annual Truth in Taxation hearing. The district’s total levy will increase by about 16 percent or $2.9 million, said Director of Finance Brian Schultz, with most of that attributable to the levy referendum passed by voters in November.  No residents spoke at the hearing. Schultz detailed how the state’s transition from a market value homestead credit to a market value homestead exclusion has resulted in property tax increases across the state despite a decrease in home values. The change has caused an average 2.2 percent increase in District 197 resident taxes, according to Schultz. Though the impact varies greatly, …

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The File Cabinet

District 197 School Board Agenda for Dec. 5

The annual Truth in Taxation hearing is scheduled for Monday night at Mendota Heights City Hall.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board is scheduled to meet 7 p.m. Monday at Mendota Heights City Hall. Included on the agenda is the Truth in Taxation public hearing for taxes payable in 2012, as well as a number of recognitions for staff throughout the district and the three departing board members. An update on the Moreland Arts and Health Sciences magnet program will be presented by Moreland Elementary Principal Eric Bradley, Magnet coordinator Marilynn Smith and magnet facilitator Teresa Smock-Potter. An update on the district's sustainability program, LIVEGREEN, will be presented by Director of Operations Mark Fortman and Sustainability Supervisor Lisa Johnson. The board will again tackle an update of the fund balance …

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Mendota Council Passes on Pay, Again

Council members say the time commitment is nominal.

The Mendota City Council voted once again to forgo payment as council members for the next 12 months. The decision was made official at their meeting Tuesday night at the Mendota VFW. In 2010, council members received a stipend of $1,000 a year. The cut is a cost saving measure for the small city. The council is expected to revisit the city's budget in December. They set the preliminary levy for 2012 in September to remain at 2011 levels but did not pass a balanced budget. City Clerk Jennifer Bruestle said that the city's reserves will likely be used to cover the $13,000 shortfall. Mayor Brian Mielke elaborated that the city expects a balance at the end of the year due in part to gambling revenue, fees and Local Government Aid the city …

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District 197 Chalk Talk: Preliminary Tax Levy OK'd

The Oct. 5 meeting of the District 197 School Board, in brief.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board approved a preliminary property tax levy payable in 2012 at their meeting Wednesday. A final property tax levy will be approved after a Truth in Taxation hearing scheduled for Dec. 5. The proposed levy would collect $17.6 million, a 3.7 percent decrease from 2011. That decrease is attributed to the expiration next year of one of two voter-approved operating levies. Voters will be asked to renew that $1.7 million levy and increase it by $1.8 million in the November election. Under the proposed levy, not including passage of the referendum, the district will likely have to make $3.2 million in cuts. Correction: This article has been edited to reflect the correct merit award received by …

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Mendota Heights City Council Approves Preliminary Budget, Levy

A preliminary levy and budget were approved Sept. 6.

The Mendota Heights City Council set a preliminary tax levy Tuesday night that increases by .43 percent over last year’s collection. The city’s overall budget for 2012 decreases spending by .97 percent, to approximately $10.4 million. The levy increases by $26,822 in part to make up for an increase in general fund spending of 1.9 percent. The council appeared particularly pleased with the results. “It’s hard to understand how messed up so many cities are in our state that they can’t run the city without completely messing up the finances,” said council member Jack Vitelli at the meeting. “… And I look at our situation and I don’t get it. This is simple stuff. And I’m very proud of what we’ve done.” Mayor Sandra Krebsbach agreed, saying the…

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District 197 Chalk Talk: Ad Contract Troubles, BlueSky Debate Continue

The Aug. 15 meeting of the District 197 School Board, in brief.

New interim superintendent Tom Nelson provided a review of how the most recent education bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature will affect District 197. Nelson said although the Legislature did not provide districts with significant additional resources, a number of repealed mandates have provided more flexibility. Check back with Patch for more information on these school board actions.

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Farmington School Board Approves Contracts with District 197 Directors

Two administrators could leave at the end of the month.

The Farmington Board of Education approved contracts Monday night to hire District 197’s finance director and human resources director, according to a report by the Farmington Independent. The expected departures follow the move of former District 197 superintendent Jay Haugen to Farmington in July. An interim superintendent, Tom Nelson, was appointed last week. Finance Director Carl Colmark and Human Resources Director MaryAnn Thomas are expected to start work in Farmington Aug. 29. Colmark told Patch Monday afternoon that he was interested in following Haugen, while Thomas said in the Farmington Independent report that she’s familiar with the Farmington area. District 197 representatives have declined to comment until letters of …

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Ken Coy

7:06 am on Thursday, August 11, 2011

Well said, Reine! Farmington apparently thinks they've done a good job even if Mr. Peters doesn't. Maybe Mr. Peters has had his heart set on one of those "cushy, power-laden" jobs and now is his chance.   more ›