Confusion on the City's Policy on Paying City Taxes and Fees

There seems to be a lot of misinformation about the City Council's unanimous decision to ensure that businesses that want to profit from the City have their obligations paid to the City. I thought I would present the facts and then everyone can make up their own minds.

Fact - This policy has nothing to do with Spectacular Events and their liquor license
Fact - The deal reached with Spectacular Events were terms that they said they could easily comply with and they have their License and have lived up to their side of the agreement to date and are an excellent operation and key business in Isanti.
Fact - This policy was worked on by the Finance Committee which the Chamber Board President sits on.
Fact - This policy was approved by the entire Council with the Chamber President who is also a sitting Council Member seconding the motion.
Fact - This is a "may" Resolution which does not bind the Council to any future action.
Fact - This policy does not affect renters or lessees for actions they can not control such as the property owner not paying their obligations.
Fact - A letter presented that was written by the Chamber's Executive Director was not a Chamber Board approved letter and there was no one at the meeting presenting the letter to discuss its contents or to engage in a conversation with or to even provide answers to. Each Council member was given a copy of this letter at the meeting since it was presented to the city the afternoon of the meeting. I believe each CM read the letter and were able to use the letter on which to base their final vote.
Fact - There is not one Isanti business that currently does business with the City that this policy would affect that I am aware of.
Fact - Each Council Member and Mayor have 1 vote. The Mayor has no veto power.
Fact - I offered to meet with anyone to discuss the issue and not one person or business chose to meet with me.


I hope this clarifies questions regarding this issue and I hope if anyone has any questions about my position they will contact me directly instead of listening to the sausage machine of small town gossip. I put my opinion in black and white for everyone to see. I do not hide my positions or opinions.

This policy was put in place, as have many others, to help prevent a recurrence of the actions that lead to the hundred's of thousands of dollars of unpaid taxes, assessments and fees due the City. There are only two options when a city does not receive the revenue it is suppose to get. Raise taxes and fees on those actually paying taxes or cut services. If income taxes, sales taxes or business vendors are not paid the repercussions are often sudden and severe. Not sure why a City should be any less important when it is the City paying for the roads to be plowed, police on the streets, fire protection and on and on. We have cut the City portion of property taxes from a high of over 77% to today's under 54%. We continue to build upon our success of growing our local business community. We have made business growth priority one since I became Mayor.