Delinquent Taxes

The Cambridge Star will have a listing of delinquent taxes in its March 19th issue. This is of course just the beginning and perhaps only the beginning of the beginning. We will be faced with the repercussions of the housing collapse and impending or existing recession for the next several years.

Depending on what "expert", and some are the same experts that got us where we are today, you listen to this will be a 2-5 year "correction". We take the unpaid taxes on top of the foreclosures which appear to be somewhere around 70 in Isanti alone and we are faced with a daunting task before us. Some will want to raise taxes to increase revenues to the City so we can continue to pretend everything is fine at City Hall.

I however have never understood how taxing people out of their homes are a solution to anything. I will not revisit my tax positions here tonight but I warn those that think City spending can continue as if in a vacuum, not taking into account the devastation wrought on our citizens by the greed of a few and their helpmates.

We are also faced with the homes in foreclosure that might be abandoned. The City is often holding the bag for the cost of maintaining these properties until they are finally sold. We also must contend with bursted pipes in homes that have not been heated or frozen pipes that burst once the warmth of spring starts to thaw out pipes. We are working to address each of these issues.

I sit on the Finance Committee which is tasked with solving the daunting financial problems we face. The fees for maintaining properties or back taxes and so on evenetually get paid when a property sells but this could be in two weeks or 2 years. The city however must continue to function and provide services regardless of the problems we face. We must do everything we can to maintain property values and not allow blighted properties to exist let alone spread throughout the City. If we allow even one run down foreclosed home to grow over in weeds we have allowed a cancer to form that will infect Isanti.

We will make it through this crisis together. We will keep taxes low and we will continue to provide the needed services we all depend on. This can and will be done. A critic of mine after I was elected Mayor sarcastically said “I hope you can keep your promises"

Of course we did keep our promises, we cut taxes, increased services, reformed City Government and increased our commercial tax base. This could only have been accomplished with the support of the Great Citizens of Isanti. We can face any challenge together. Our recent success is a testament to what we can achieve. We face tough times to be sure but so does the entire country. I would rather face the future here in Isanti with each of you than anywhere else.