Jylan emphasized, "I cannot stress enough the importance of the City Coun-cil's goal to lower the city's tax impact rate, to a level that the median assessed tax valued home will not see an increase in the city tax payable in 2006.  The re-duction in the city tax impact rate will ease the burden on the city's taxpayers, while the city continues to maintain a high level of service to its growing commu-nity."
Why do the different cities have different tax capacity rates?  Jylan further explained, "Each city's tax rate is going to differ because of revenues needed to fund services.  In simplified terms, the tax rate is determined by dividing the local levy by the adjusted tax capacity."

PEOPLE PAY FOR ROAD RECONSTRUCTION
IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER …
With a 2-1-1 vote, Victoria council-members adopted the final assessment roll for the 2004 street and utility improve-ments.
Assessment total of $573,800 is brok-en down as follows:  $108,300 for Vir-ginia Shores Circle ($5,700 for each of 19 benefiting properties); $238,700 for Park-side Estates ($7,700 for each of 31 benefiting properties); and $226,800 for Smithtown Terrace, Iris, and Iris Circle ($8,100 for each of the 28 benefiting properties).
The city's total contribution to these projects is $1,622,594.  The current assessment policy calls for the city to pay 50% of the street and stormsewer im-provements.  As City Engineer Jack Griffin pointed out, "In some cases the math indicates that the city is paying over 50%.  This is because the city also pays for any oversizing, i.e., wider streets and larger stormsewer pipes that service areas beyond the immediate neighborhood."
The city's current assessment policy calls for benefiting properties to pay 100% of the watermain and sanitary sewer extension costs.  Altogether, in the three neighborhood projects, there are 78 bene-fiting properties.
The split 2-1-1 council vote resulted on September 22^nd when some residents from Virginia Shores voiced their intention to appeal their assessments.
Stated Gary Corwin at Virginia Shores, "Are you prepared to show us that our property values increased by $5,700?  We've had problems with this street for 16 years.  There has been little or no maintenance for the last eight years."  He said that others, including the county assessor and appraisers, agreed there was no increase in the value of their properties because of the street project.
He added, "You simply brought the road from disrepair to repair."
Approximately six Virginia Shores residents acquired Attorney Bob Lindall to represent their interests.  The attorney spoke to councilmembers that evening.  "If the residents file an appeal, we go to court.  If they don't file, the challenge will die.  Anyone who doesn't file a written appeal waives that right to appeal."
The attorney added, "It's not impos-sible to have some sort of negotiation be-fore the filing.  It is true we have not pre-sented testimony from a real estate appraiser.  We're comfortable about re-taining one, however."
Councilmember Terry Bishop stated, "We have people on staff who are experts in things like this.  Yes, we talked about those improvements.  My recollection is that, relying on our city attorney, we did comply with the statutes."
Councilmember Richard Tieden said, "We have worked hard to come up with what's fair."  There was a comment that out of 78 total properties, the assessment complaints were few.

Voting in favor of accepting the assessment rolls were Terry Bishop and Richard Tieden.  Mary Thun abstained

OTHER NEWS FROM SEPTEMBER
NEW ASSISTANT CITY PLANNER ANGIE PERRERA
*Angie Perrera began her first day on the job as the Victoria Assistant City Planner on September 6^th.  A resident of Plymouth, she is originally from North Dakota and graduated from St. Cloud State University.  Upon being introduced to the Victoria City Council on September 8^th she said, "Thank you for selecting me and for the opportunity to work for the community."
*Councilmembers approved repairs to the north wall of the Victoria Fire Sta-tion, accepting the low bid of $1,910 from TLP Frame-Up, Inc.
*Councilmembers approved a dona-tion from MN Valley Electric to the Vic-toria Fire Department.  Stated Firefighter Gary Sohns, "This year we applied for four smoke extractor fans.  We asked MN Valley Electric for this plus the replace-ment of two more ice rescue suits."  Total value of the donation is $2,636.  He ex-plained that MN Valley Electric reviews requests from different agencies and then makes their respective decisions.  Funds are made available by Operation Roundup and the cooperative's members who opt to have their electric bills "rounded up" to the nearest dollar.
*The Victoria Chamber of Commerce received a variance to the noise ordinance for a band that played at the Schmitty's parking lot on Stieger Lake Lane the night of September 24^th for the Victoria Volks-fest.  Asked Councilmember Mary Thun, "How much did we donate to this?"  The replay was, "Around $4,000."  Taxpayers contributed, in fact, $4,300 to the event.
*Kristy Mock was appointed to the newly created position of Victoria Parks and Recreation Supervisor, having served in that capacity for the past several months.  The position of Victoria Parks and Recreation Director remains open with the possibility of being filled as city programs grow and expand.
*Jennie Range will continue to work as the Building Permit Technician in addition to her duties as Office Assistant at the City of Victoria.  Her wages will be adjusted accordingly.  Next year the posi-tions will be reviewed within the frame-work of city growth.
*Councilmembers approved the re-zoning request from agricultural to resi-dential for residential properties recently annexed on June 9^th among the 500 acres of township property.  This includes 10 single family homes along Maple Drive and three along County Road 43.
*Councilmembers discussed further revisions to the Growth Management Guidelines to  reward tree preservation, regional pond stormwater systems, and landscaped berms.
*Councilmembers accepted bids and awarded a contract for the sealcoating of parts of Allegheny, Swiss Smountain, Sunny Shadows, Narcissus, Katy Hills, and Field Creek this fall at a cost of $39,017.  73^rd Street at Parkside will be overlaid because it was damaged by the reconstruction of connecting streets in the neighborhood. 

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