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_ Hastings Rivertown News ........... Jt. J............................. i.... .~ City of Hastings 101 Fourth Street East, Hastings, MN 55033-1955 (651)437-4127 www.ci.hastinos.mn.us ,,:, UNITED WE STAND \" ~ The City of Hastings would like to express it's thoughts and sympathies to all who have been to~ched by the September 11 , 2001 terrorist attack on New York City, Washington, D.C., Penn- sylvania, and the nation as a whole. For information on how you can contribute funds or donate blood, please see Page 8. Budget Open House Set for November 15 Have questions regarding the City's Budget? Do you want to learn more as to where your City tax dollar goes? Come to the City's 2002 Budget Open House. The public is invited to attend this informational session set for Thursday, November 15, 2001 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. at City Hall. FALL WATER MAIN FLUSHING PLANNED To protect the City's water supply, all Hastings water mains will be flushed this fall. This process will begin the week of October 15th, 2001. The City's Public Works Department will flush the water mains by opening each of the 1,OOO-plus fire hydrants in Hastings. This sudden rush of water loosens and removes accumulated mineral deposits from the lines. Please be aware, this process often causes disc%ration of your water. While the water is safe to drink, it could stain fabrics if you are washing clothes at the time the water mains are being flushed. You should check for signs of discoloration before using the water to wash clothes. The Public Works Department also suggests you flush out the taps in your home, as iron deposits tend to build up in residential lines. When weather permits and all hydrants have been flushed in your neighborhood, open the outside faucets and run all the cold water taps in your home at full force. The water will start out clear, then become discolored. Leave the taps open until the water becomes clear again, usually in 10 to 30 minutes. If you have any questions about the flushing process, or when they will be in your neighborhood, please call Public Works at 437-3922. Volume VI Issue 4 Z<oo2 Property Tax CJhtalfllges As a result of the 2001 Omnibus Tax Law, the City of Hastings and many other Metropolitan growth 00 D cities will see significant de- I D IUI creases in State Aid for 2002. While new legislation will also lead to overall decreases in property taxes for most residents throughout the state of Minnesota, loss of State Aid to the City of Hastings will result in an increase in the City share of a resident's property tax. The State of Minnesota made a strategic de- cision that shifts a greater share of State property tax aid to the State's education system and elimi- nated the education system's need for a general property tax levy. Much of the funding for public education will now come from those State Aids that were once provided to local governments such as the City of Hastings. What Type oJF Ai.d WillS Lost? To help residents better understand what type of aid reductions will impact the City of Hastings, we have provided an explanation of Local Govern- ment Aid and Homestead & Agricultural Aid and how changes in these programs will affect 2002 property taxes. JLocal G'roveJmJmeJrut Ai.d Local Government Aid (LGA) was originally es- tablished in 1971 as a per-capita revenue shar- ing/property tax relief program. Initially, LGA re- placed the exempt property reimbursement pro- gram and sales tax per capital aids. Since the LGA program was created, the formula has been amended and changed frequently, evolving through years of difficult economic conditions. In 1993, the State of Minnesota enacted an en- tirely new LGA formula that distributed state aid increases to cities based on the perception of City need and tax base. /n 2001, the City of Hastings received $1,478,052 in LGA, while that amount will be decreased by $38,704 in 2002. 2002 Tax Changes, Continued on Page 8... Page 1 Fall, 2001