Budget includes no property-tax increase, major street improvements, and focus on jobs and safety in 2012
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved the City’s 2012 budget based on Mayor R.T. Rybak’s proposal, which included no increase to the City’s property-tax levy and investments in major street improvements. The newly-adopted 2012 City budget makes a major new capital investment in street improvements and invests in the coordinated One Minneapolis initiative to reduce racial inequity in unemployment. The budget also maintains investments in public safety that have lowered violent crime citywide to historic lows, and eliminates no positions in the Fire Department. The 2012 budget is 9 percent lower than it was 10 years ago, and will include 12 percent fewer fulltime positions. Since 2002, the City has paid down or avoided $183 million in debt and at the same time successfully restored its AAA credit rating. Earlier this year, the Mayor and City Council approved a successful negotiation to merge two closed City pension funds with the State’s public-employee retirement system that averted a $20 million tax increase that would have been forced on taxpayers in 2012. The 2012 budget also invests $150 million in street improvements over the next five years, 60 percent more than had been planned. The City will spend $9 million more in street improvements in 2012 than previously planned, and $23 million more in 2013.
Visit the City’s website at www.minneapolismn.gov for more information about the 2012 budget.
Minneapolis reduces pet license fees
It will now cost less for you to license your cat or dog. The City of Minneapolis is reducing pet license fees in an effort to get more people to license their pets. Beginning January 2012, the annual license fee for a spayed/neutered pet drops from $30 to $25. A $15 discount was also created for those individuals with limited incomes or those receiving public assistance. This new license type mirrors the existing discount for seniors age 65 or older. Pet licensing is a major component of Minneapolis Animal Care & Control’s mission to create safe and healthy communities for people and pets, and it’s also the law. City ordinance requires the licensing of all dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets. There are many benefits that come with licensing your pet. Licensed pets that stray away from home are three times more likely than unlicensed pets to be returned safely to their owners. If a licensed stray pet is picked up by Minneapolis Animal Care & Control or brought to the Animal Shelter, the animal gets a free ride home. Stray cats and dogs that come to the shelter without a visible license tag only have a 50 percent chance of going home. Licensing your pet also helps other pets. Pet license fees pay for: Basic veterinary and emergency care for all stray animals; bite, animal cruelty and dangerous animal investigations and enforcement; efforts to find homes for stray and abandoned animals; and enforcement of laws to ensure safe communities for people and pets
Licensing your pet is quick and easy. You can apply through the City by going online, calling 311, or visiting Minneapolis Animal Care & Control or the Minneapolis Development Review. Pet Licenses can also be purchased at two veterinary clinics – Westgate Pet Clinic and Minneapolis Veterinary Hospital – as well as with Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet. For more information visit the Minneapolis Animal Care & Control website: www.minneapolismn.gov/animal-control.
4th Ward E-Newsletter
Sign up for the 4th Ward E-mail newsletter at: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/contact/email-form-johnson.asp In “questions/comments” type “newsletter” and you will be added to the list.