As the end of the year draws near the City of Breezy Point is at the crossroads of change. This change includes two council members who have served the city for many years letting their terms lapse and two others joining the council. Many thanks and appreciation goes out to Diane Williams and Erik Lee. Diane spending 10 years on the council and Erik spending 4 years.
Council members elect include Tom Lillehei and Scott Willer. Both were previously on the Planning Commission and Scott Willer is a former council member. We welcome them and look forward to their service with the Oaths of Office being taken on January 3, 2011.
Another change in leadership occurs within the Cemetery Commission. Mike Landecker, one of the founders of Pelican Woods Cemetery, has also let his term pass. He has felt it is time for another to carry the reins within the Cemetery Commission so a newcomer will be appointed. Mike has spent countless hours to make the cemetery the best it can be with a labor of love. His attention to detail truly shows when it comes to outcomes. With Mike’s many years of service to and for the commission he will be missed but hopefully open to answer those questions of the past that maybe hard to find.
Another change is that of the budget for 2011. The final levy was adopted at a Special December 20th Council Meeting. This year was difficult, not only to this city but all jurisdictions with a change in taxable value. Almost without exception every taxing jurisdiction in the state saw declines in property values for all the reasons we’re aware of. Many jurisdictions have relied on growth to address increases in budgets to keep property taxes relatively flat. This year, with declining taxable values, even keeping a levy flat from that of last year means increases in taxes for most property owners.
Breezy Point was no different. We lost $295,694 in tax value. Keeping the tax levy the same as last year resulted in an increase of $25.76 for a home valued at $150,000. With this understanding the council sought to further reduce the levy. After final council action the levy was reduced an additional $50,600. This didn’t bring the tax rate back to the level of 2010 but it did head off some of the increase that was proposed. With the new budget we’ll continue to be conscious of spending and resources living with less than the past year.
