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Hastings Rivertown News City of Hastings .101 East Fourth Street Hastings, MN. 55033-1955. (612)437-4127 Mayor's Messa~ For 1998, citizens can anticipate new developments like the construction of an outdoor pool at Roadside Park, the opening of a second ice sheet at the Arena, and the redevelopment of Bahls block. In addition, revisions for the comprehensive plan in areas such as land use, growth options, and storm sewer capacity will be completed by December 1998. To participate in revising the comprehensive plan, see page 4 of this issue. The City will continue to provide quality services to its residents. The Police will be spot surveying local businesses to evaluate the department's services. Thanks to fundraising efforts by our great community, the City will be able to provide a new training program for the Fire Department, emergency defibrillators for the Police Department, continued park improvements, and the opening of our second ice sheet at the Arena. If you have any questions or comments regarding any of the City projects for 1998, please contact myself or other Councilmembers. Mayor Werner and the City Council Free Water Conservation Kits Free water conservation kits are available at City Hall for Hastings residents. The kits include a high efficiency faucet aerator, a pulsing motion flow showerhead, leak detection tablets, a toilet tank displacement bag, and a toilet tank fill cycle diverter. A brochure titled "Easy ways to save water, money, and energy at home" will be handed out with the conservation kits. There is no charge for these conservation kits;just stop down at City Hall and pick them up. you have any questions regarding the 1997 property tax ate, you can contact the Minnesota Department of evenue at (612) 296-3781 orl-800-652-9094. They so on the world wide web at www.taxes.state.mn.us. Volume 3 Issue 1 Volume III Finance: Minnesota er.gperty Tax Rebate In an effort to return a portion of the State's budget surplus to the citizens of Minnesota, the State is offering a one-time property tax rebate. You will qualify for the rebate if you are a homeowner, or a renter who is not a dependent of someone else's for federal income tax purposes. For homeowners, the rebate will be calculated as 20% of the 1997 property taxes paid in calendar year 1997. If a homeowner prepaid 1997 property taxes in 1996, the taxes would not qualify for the rebate. A 1997 property tax statement must be submitted along with the taxlrebate return. For renters, the rebate will be calculated as 3.6 % of total rent paid in 1997 for occupancy in 1997 (equates to 20% of the estimated property tax portion of the rent). If a renter prepaid 1998 rent during 1997, this amount would not qualify for the rebate. A certificate of rent paidfor 1997 must accompany the taxlrebate return. The form required to file for the property tax rebate is the Minnesota income tax return (M-I), which is due April 15, 1998. A separate section will be added to the form for this purpose. If you qualify for the rebate, but would not normally file an income tax return, you must complete the M-I form to get your rebate. Those homeowners and renters should write "Do not meet the filing requirements - rebate only" at the top of the M-I form, enter a "0" on Line I, and complete the rebate section. Copies of the M- I form can be obtained from your local post office or library. ~'. , ' . . If you are entitled to both an income tax refund and property tax rebate, those amounts will be combined and remitted to you on one check. If you owe state income taxes, or have outstanding debt with other governmental units, the rebate will be applied to those amounts. At this time, the Department of Revenue is unsure how long it will take to process and return the rebates. February' 1998 Page 1