Chaska Herald | www.chaskaherald.com
August 25, 2011 | Page 3
County Board plans to Chaska resident is state’s poet laureate set lower 2012 tax levy BY RICHARD CRAWFORD editor@chanvilager.com
The Carver County Board will vote Sept. 6 on a preliminary tax levy that is expected to lower taxes on average-value homes and be about $1 million less than the 2011 levy, according to county officials. The County Board, which discussed County Administrator David Hemze’s preliminary recommendations on Tuesday, has been planning for several months for a 2012 budget that will keep property taxes in check. “Our recommendation to set the levy at $45 million follows the board’s direction to decrease the tax impact on average-value homes,” said Hemze. Estimating it would cost an additional $1.3 million to maintain the same general level of services in 2012, county divisions have already been asked to cut their budgets by 2.9 percent. However, state legislation passed this year will eliminate about $1 million more in state aid from the Market Value Homestead Credit. Hemze’s recommendation calls for using $1 million in County Program Aid from the state to address the gap. That money had been targeted for funding capital projects. “We need to lower the levy to offset the loss of Homestead Credit revenue from the state – revenue that used to subsidize the property tax levy – in order to avoid passing the state’s budget cuts down to the county’s taxpayers,” Hemze said. “By lowering the levy, the county will mitigate the increased tax burden on all properties and
County budget timeline Sept. 6: County Board will set preliminary property tax levy for 2012. (Final levy can be lower but not higher than preliminary levy) October: County administrator will present final budget and levy recommendation for 2012 and a 2013 long-term financial plan. December: County Board will conduct a public hearing and adopt the 2012 tax levy and budget.
Joyce Sutphen of Chaska has been named poet laureate for the state of Minnesota by Gov. Mark Dayton. She will serve as the primary spokesperson, supporter and promoter of poetry in the state. “Joyce Sutphen is a talented writer and teacher who will be a great voice for poetry in Minnesota,” said Dayton. “I am thrilled she will be serving as poet laureate for our state.”
Sutphen grew up on a farm near St. Joseph, Minn., and lives in Chaska. She has degrees from the University of M i n ne s ot a , Joyce i ncludi ng a Sutphen m a ster ’s i n English with an emphasis in writing and a Ph.D. in renais-
sance d rama. She teaches literature and creative writing at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Sutphen has published several volumes of poetry, and has been honored with numerous awards including the Minnesota Book Award in Poetry. Sutphen is the second official Minnesota Poet Laureate, replacing Robert Bly who was appointed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2007. The position was established by
PLANTING A NEW SCHOOL
ensure the goal of decreasing taxes on average-value homes is met.” According to a county release, the county’s tax impact on the average-value home has declined every year since 2005. The value of the average home in Carver County decreased from $277,200 in 2010 to $267,800 in 2011. Homeowners’ property taxes go to local cities, schools and the county as well as smaller taxing jurisdictions. Under Hemze’s recommendation, the county’s portion of the total property tax bill on an average-valued home will decrease slightly in 2012. Once the Carver County Board sets the 2012 preliminary tax levy in September, the final 2012 tax levy can be lower, but it cannot be increased for 2012. The County Board will vote to adopt the fi nal 2012 levy and budget after a public hearing in December.
PHOTOS BY MARK W. OLSON
Above – Southwest Christian High School officials, and Chaska Mayor Mark Windschitl, dig in last Thursday evening. They were holding a groundbreaking at the site of Southwest Christian’s future 62,000-square-foot high school, at the southeast corner of Highway 212 and Bavaria Road. Quite a bit of earth had already been moved on the site, but SWCHS officials used the occasion to thank all those who made it possible. “This is really part of a vision and a dream that so many people have been a part of for really the last 17 years, and it’s just so great to be here with you,” said SWCHS Principal Dan Beckering. Among those in attendance were Francis and Elizabeth Hammers, whose family had farmed the land for decades.
CORRECTION T he stor y “1 21-ye a r - old steamboat charts course for Carver” included an incorrect name of a Carver councilor. Mike Webb said, “We can work out the details. Do we want the steamboat? I do.”
The Herald is committed to providing accurate information. If you find an error or have a comment about a story, contact editor Mark Olson at (952) 345-6574 or editor@ chaskaherald.
At left – Attendees at the groundbreaking bow their heads for a prayer.
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Thirty years ago this February three friends moved into the (old) Teske coal building on Chestnut, took over a farm hardware and feed store to start a garden center. This new business, Chaska Farm & Garden, moved two years later to the(old) Gale building on 2nd street and two of the original friends (Tim Kenny and Julie Alden) moved on too. In 1986 Chaska Farm& Garden moved to the (old) A&W on (then) Hwy 212 where we resided for 26 years and made our main mark. Now, up against a myriad of headwinds including road/traffic changes, generational demographics, and a sour economy we find it necessary to close shop. I bear no ill will to the City of Chaska. An environmental clean-up was necessary on our site, federal money was available and eminent domain was used to the good. We can tell you that the city administration has bent over backwards to provide us useful and attractive options that we might well have chosen in a better climate. Thank you (!) Bart Fischer, Bill Monk, Matt Podhrasky and Kevin Ringwald for all your help and hand-holding. Thank you also Sarah and Mike Hanlon for your kindness, footwork and the ideas that we also considered. But the biggest thank yous must go to all our great customers, you know who you are, we’ve felt the love!
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the Legislature in 2007, and the Minnesota Humanities Center is responsible for soliciting nominations, screeni n g c a nd id at e s a nd m a king recommendations to the governor. The poet laureate serves at the pleasure of the governor. The Minnesota Humanities Center is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1971, and affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities.