Clarification to last post

The budget is a complete financial document, the Tax Levy is a piece of the overall budget. 

When setting budgets, the Council is guided by the tax levy and uses it as a decision making tool.   We use the tax levy amount to make measurements within the overall budget.  If something is changed in a different part of the budget, we always ask, "How does that affect the Tax Levy?"  We are committed to keeping the Tax Levy and the entire budget stable and sustainable. 

Wow!  Today was a great day of campaigning.  Thank you to all the citizens who have taken time out of their day to speak with me.  So heartwarming to know so many citizens are engaged and involved with the city, they know what is going on, they are informed voters.  Thanks so much to everyone for your support. 

I was asked questions about my opponent’s newest campaign literature.  Here’s my response:

Crystal’s Property Taxes during the past 7 years were stable even though times were uncertain and unstable.   Have property taxes gone up, yes, but so has the price of gas and health care, both of which the City purchases. 

The Council spends about 7 months deconstructing and reconstructing the budget looking for ways to save money while providing expected services.  The Council’s goal is to maintain property taxes paid by citizens and look for cost savings.  Over time, we need to keep taxes stable and sustainable to preserve our neighborhoods and our property values. 

For example, the 2012 tax levy was cut by 2.07 percent, which was the good news.  The bad news happened when the state eliminated the Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC).  The impact of this action was to increase our -2.07 percent budget-cut to zero and some of our home owners saw an increase of up to 4 percent.  This demonstrates that sometimes, regardless of what the Council does or does not do with the budget, we are financially impacted by outside entities. 

Regarding the General Bonded Debt referenced in my opponent’s literature:  If you read the 2012 Budget Report on page 138/209 (pdf version) you will find the following:

“The City of Crystal has been rated by Moody’s Investor Services each time it (the city) issued a bond.  The most recent rating was in 2011 and was an Aa2 rating.  The Aa2 rating reflects the City’s mature tax base located in the Twin Cities, healthy financial operations, and modest debt levels with rapid principal repayment.”

Moody’s Aa2 rating is the highest rating given to a city with our tax capacity. 

The City is at the top of the ratings and financially healthy.  However, there is no room for extravagances and we must ALWAYS find ways to do what we do for less.  I assure you Crystal’s finances are stable and sustainable and we (the Council and staff) plan to keep Crystal financially healthy.

I don’t have the space here to explain the financial details of the City of Crystal but I know where you can find the information, please go to the City of Crystal’s website www.ci.crystal.mn.us//  -  on the home page, and click on City Departments (located in the left side navigation bars).  Click on Finance Department and at the Finance Department’s page, under “Quick Links, click 2012 Budget Report, pages 1 - 6.  This section provides the details of the impact of the loss of the MVHC. 

One can find additional reports that I suggest you read the complete financial story about the financial health of your city, these include the 2011 Financial Report, 2012 Budget Report and the 2013 Budget FAQ.  I suggest you read these reports to see the numbers and the narritives within the context of the complete budget. 

I am proud of the work done by myself and the Crystal council.  Vote for me on November 6^th to maintain your city’s financial health.

Local TV Ad comments

Greetings!!
Some may wonder why I put the local TV ad for my challenger on my blog (along with my own ad).  I believe that citizens should be informed.  My challenger states that he does not like the direction the city is going.  Yet, according to our recent Citizen Survey, citizens demonstrate they support the direction the city has gone.  Many citizens like our small,  town feel with our access to urban amenities.  As I have campaigned, I have discovered there are no issues communicated by the citizens.  People are happy and I am proud I had a part in that

My challenger laments on the issue of taxes in our city, my challenger lies when he talks about the tax rate.  I hate a liar, I have never lied to get elected.  My belief is that if a candidate is willing to lie to get elected, what will they be willing to lie about after they are elected.  I have proof to back up my statements, can my challenger prove his statements? 

We have had small tax increases, but we have not had large spikes like many other cities, nor are we growing government.  As a city we do not deficit spend, our budgets are always balanced.  Our city not only looks healthy, it is financially healthy and city staff continues to provide services citizens rely on and expect.   Our property values are preserved and in fact values are increasing.  A home that sold for $103,000 a year ago, sells for $137,000 today, Crystal houses do not linger in the market.  If the city is going in the wrong direction, why is our housing stock so strong?

I have a demonstrated track record of serving individual citizens, not special interest groups.  Budgets must be transparent and if they are not, changes must be made to make them transparent.  Hundreds of Crystal citizens know first hand that I am available to answer questions, help solve issues and tirelessly work as an advocate for their rights as citizens.  Thousands know I am the best candidate for the job.

Vote for ReNae Bowman on November 6th, a candidate with a positive, proven track record of citizen service and respect. 

http://www.twelve.tv/news/newsitem.aspx?newsid=1395&newsitemid=20195

What a glorious weekend!!  Such a great time to be campaigning.  First of all I really want to thank all who are supporting me during my re-election campaign.  It is so heart warming to be greeted with hugs and statements of, "of course I am voting for you".  Of the hundreds of people I have been in contact with during the past couple of weeks, I have learned that most of the citizens believe the city is doing well and life is good in Crystal and that the council has the city on the right track. 

I spoke with a young man who very recently purchased a home in Crystal.  I asked him where he was from and what motivated him to purchase in Crystal.  He said that was from St. Louis Park and when he began to look for a home, in the end he found that Crystal has the "best bang for his buck".  He said that he was able to buy much better house here for the price and that he LOVES this city. 

When I ask citizens about any current problems or issues I am being told there are no problems or issues.  I do however remind citizens that I cannot fix problems if I don't know about an issue and it is important to stay in touch with me or their council representatives. 

Citizens agree that we have not had  tax spikes during our recent bad economic times and that stable taxes are important to our citizens.  We have seen tax increases, but citizens know that it takes people to provide services and people need to be paid.  City  employees had wages frozen for  a 2 year period.  I want to thank the Crystal staff for their patience during tough times.  We have given some small wage increases (the price of gas and milk alone is a budget breaker for most families) and that has helped us to maintain our stable tax structure. 

Thanks again to all the citizens for their support.  I am looking forward to another 4 years of service to this wonderful community!!!!   Let's keep the momentum going!!  Let's make sure the city of Crystal remains a great place to live, work and play!!  Look for me as I campaign!!  Let me know what you love most about our great city!!!!  Thanks for your support!!!!
ReNae