St. Paul, Minn., proposes new tax increase
After an 11-year stretch of flat taxes, the St. Paul, Minn., City Council voted to raise taxes to generate an additional $1 million from property owners next year. Some city council members say that the proposal is modest and only addressed public safety, kids and seniors. They also claim that the 2 percent increase does not provide residents with the public safety or recreational services the community needs. According to the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Mayor Randy Kelly has vowed to veto the tax hike and says the increase is “absolutely unnecessary.” Other council members are arguing that the city needs to hire seven more firefighters to fill half of the vacant 14 vacant positions that were cut from the city’s budget two years ago. http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/9613410.htm