Budget and Taxes

Dan always keeps in mind that City budget and tax decisions have real impacts on individuals and businesses in our community.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:  Dan believes it is important to keep spending in line by carefully considering new programs, including their full impacts both short and long term, as well as by seeking efficiency and shared services with other cities or entities.  During his time in office, with the exception of key infrastructure sustainability investments such as the park and fire station bonding, the City budget has primarily consisted of maintaining City services as efficiently as possible without addition of significant new programs.

CLEAR COMMUNICATION: Over time, Dan has helped lead the council and staff toward a set of standardized budget documents that help to increase understanding and transparency of budget and tax decisions.  He is committed to continuously improving budget communications, public input, and transparency.  A key partner in budgeting and financial decisions for the City is the Finance Commission, made up of citizen advisors.

TAX BASE GROWTH: Dan also is a strong supporter of growing the City’s tax base of both commercial and residential property values.  Balanced tax base growth in both sectors helps to mitigate cost growth in the City budget and tax levy by increasing the total property value over which any tax levy increase is applied.

ALTERNATIVES TO PROPERTY TAXES:  Listening to Roseville’s property tax payers who want shoppers and visitors to Roseville to pay a larger share of the cost of City services, Dan is supportive of the City’s request to use a dedicated local sales tax (paid primarily by shoppers from outside the city) to pay for replacing the Public Works facility and License Center, as well as creating a needed pedestrian crossing of Highway 36 at Snelling.  This 16-year 0.5% local sales tax would provide property tax relief when existing debt for the fire station and park renewal is paid off in the coming years, while placing a greater portion of the cost of City services onto significant users of those services.