1970-4424r1
RESOLUTION N0. 4424
RESOLUTIONd ENDORSING AMEPJDMENT N0. 1 ON TAX-EXEMPT-PROPERTY
WHEREAS, the City of Richfield is by law almost totally dependent on the pro-
perty tax to finance municipal services; and
WHEREAS, the city council is acutely aware of the burden which property taxes
impose, on property owners, particularly those individuals living on fixed incomes;
and
WHEREAS, the city council is concerned about the steady growth in tax-exempt
property which serves to increase the burden of taxpaying property owners; and
WHEREAS, the city council is not unmindful of the valuable services performed
by many tax-exempt organizations, particularly religious and educational institu-
tions; and
WHEREAS, the Ihinnesota Legislature has thoroughly studied this problem and
expressed its concern through~~the passage of Laws 1969c.925, which .proposes to
amend Article 9, Section 1 of~the~Mi~nnesota Constitution to permit the Legislature
to define or..:~l:imi t the classes of exempt property, except churches , houses of wor-
ship and property used solely for educational purposes; and
WHEREAS, the cit,~'councij~believ~s.the proposed amendment to be in the best
interests of the city'~of Richfield~and~the state as a whole, and represents a
reasonable means of r~~eting~the~need`to more equitably spread the burden of fin~n-
cing local government services while at the same time avoiding imposing undue
financial hardship on ~ducational~and'r~eligious institutions;
NOW, THEREF(~~E, 6~ IT~RESOLtIED that the city council of Richfield endorses
the principles ofequitable tax policy and reform exemplified in Amendment No.
1 relating to tax-exempt property and urges its ratification.
Passed by the City Council of the City of Richfield this 27th day of July,
1970.
w ~ ~~~~
Stanley W. Olson, Mayor
Attest:
G~
Thomas J. M ran, Clerk