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Hastings Rivertown News City of Hastings 0101 East Fourth Street Hastings, MN 055033-1955 0 (612)437-4127 Mayor's Letter During the past year the City of Hastings was again the beneficiary of the Summer youth Employment and Training program directed by the Tree Trust. This program has resulted in various improvements to the City of Hastings over the years, most recently and perhaps most noticeable are the improvements at Lions Park. In 1996, the Tree Trust was involved in the con- struction of the playground equipment and site improvements at Lions Park. This past summer the Tree Trust constructed a portable restroom screen, and post and rail fence at Lions Park. The Tree Trust also completed in 1997 the cutting and removing of 500 feet of brush along the entrance to the park, and completed the landscaping near the park sign. Lions Park was not the only park that was the beneficiary of the fine efforts of the Tree Trust during 1997, as Roadside Park, Vermillion Falls Park and CP Adams Park also saw improve- ments completed, with portable restroom screens constructed at all three of the parks. In addition, the Tree Trust constructed three timber stair cases with 90 steps at CP Adams Park and also cleaned and weeded the landscaped areas. The efforts of the Tree Trust through- out 1997 are sin- ===\ cerely appreciated by the entire community '."-- and on behalf of the City of Hastings, our thanks are extended to the Tree Trust. Mayor Werner and the City Council City of Hastings 1998 Bud~ The total proposed 1998 Budget recommended by the City Council is $13,224,103. This is an in- crease of 2% over last years budget. The total 1998 proposed tax levy that has been certified to the County is $4,754,706, an increase from the 1997 certified levy of $4,245,722. This includes $3, I 04,706 for general revenue levy and $1,650,000 for the debt service levy. The increase is largely due to 1997 state property tax reform legislation. The effect that this proposed levy could have on a city homestead property with a value of $100,000 is ESTIMATED to be an increase of $29.22 for the City portion of the property tax bill. The impact on the average home of the property tax levy for the budget has been estimated only, because the tax base values have not yet been finalized by Dakota and Washington Counties. By November 24, both Dakota and Washington Counties will mail notices to each taxpayer that includes a comparison of 1997 taxes and proposed 1998 taxes. Public hearings on the proposed 1998 taxes will be held between November 29 and December 22. The City's public hearing date has been set for Tuesday, December 2, 1997 at 7 :00 pm in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The Council's Finance Committee and a Citizen Budget Committee will be conducting meetings to further discuss the 1998 budget in the months of October and November, before the final City budget and levy are approved by the City Council in December 1997. Volume 2 Issue 4 October . 1997 Volume II Page 1