Bayport residents to pay slightly less in property taxes

A small jump in the tax levy, combined with a larger drop in property valuations, should result in a drop in taxes for most Bayport property owners.

Monday night, former City Administrator Mike McGuire presented the city's 2010 budget and levy to the city council during the annual Truth in Taxation hearing. (McGuire presented the budget because he'd helped put it together before being succeeded by new Administrator Mitch Berg.)

The city's budget dropped by 3.1 percent from 2009, to just over $2 million, while the levy climbed 1.9 percent to $1.041 million. The city's local government aid will drop from $461,616, which is expected for 2009, to $346,629.

On average, taxes should drop by around 1 percent, according to McGuire's report.

The budget has shrunk by 9 percent, or almost $200,000 since 2006, while the levy has grown by about 11 percent since that time, or $100,000.

McGuire said that the budget accomplishes all the things the city wanted.

"It keeps the overall levy increase to a minimum, it maintains the current level of services, it maintains capital future needs and we also see a slight decrease in the 2010 budget," he said.

The council adopted the budget, tax levy and 2010-2014 capital improvement plan.

Mayor Jon Nowaczek said that state officials can't keep cutting back local government aid.

"There's an awful lot of baloney flying around at the legislature about how cities are going to have to shoulder their burden," he said. "It is time to tell your legislators exactly what they need to do. We've cut everything as far as it can go. There's nowhere else go from here. They need to hear that message loud and clear."

Log Cabin

There was some debate Monday about how to deal with the log cabin on the south side of Lakeside Park.

Plans to demolish the cabin to make way for a volleyball court, a project proposed by a local Eagle Scout, have been put on hold, as the city received some calls regarding its historic value.

The city then went ahead with the court, finding room next to the cabin. However, as the project moved forward, it became obvious the cabin would need to go in order to complete the court.

Now the city must decide whether to keep it and put up the money it would take to restore it, tear it down, or give it away.

The first option would cost the city around $24,000, and that price could jump, Public Works Supervisor Mel Horak said. The estimate on revamping the shabby cabin could jump, Horak said, as the contractor didn't know the shape of the logs that make up the cabin walls.

The council did not seem interested in the first option.

While the city has received complaints about tearing it down, several groups that were interested in the building and have come to take a closer look have backed off from taking it away, said Administrator Berg.

Councilwoman Connie Carlson said she'd received many comments about the issue, and said the council shouldn't rush to make a decision.

"I haven't had one person who told me that it should be torn down," she said. "People that have been here forever feel that it is part of the park."

Nowaczek proposed that the city offer it to people, but added that if it isn't taken by the spring, it would be torn down.

"If it was in good condition it might be a different situation," he said.

The cabin, which was built in 1927, is in very rough shape according to Horak. However, some residents have been very vocal about keeping the building, which they say is historic.

On the advice of the city attorney, the council decided to put the issue on next month's agenda.

In other business the council...

¥ approved the purchase of a new truck for the public works department.

The vehicle will be a 1-ton Chevrolet work truck, which will cost $23,158, plus tax and license. The truck will then need to be outfitted with a snowplow, crane and work storage lockers, which should cost around $24,000. Those expenses will be brought to the council at a future date.

¥ adopted a new flood map for the city. The new map is much more detailed and doesn't put any existing homeowners out of the flood plain, but could give homeowners a better idea if their home qualifies are part of the flood plain.

Peter Cox covers crime and the cities of Stillwater and Bayport for the Gazette. He can be reached at 651-796-1108 or pcox@acnpapers.com.