Politics & Government

Tax Levy Increase or Special Assessment to Fund Apple Valley Road Repairs

The Apple Valley City Council will discuss the two options at its Tuesday meeting.

On Tuesday, the Apple Valley City Council will discuss two funding options to raise an additional $960,000 per year to maintain Apple Valley’s deteriorating roads.

“We’re at an age today in our community that our streets will need some reconstruction,” said Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland.

The funding options are either to increase the road improvement tax levy or to implement special assessments for properties adjacent to any street reconstruction that occurs, according to a document from the city's Department of Public Works.

Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The tax levy adjustment would consist of a 5 percent increase in the overall city property tax levy and would be phased into the tax system beginning in 2013.

The special assessments would cost approximately $2,500 levied over 10 years for a single family residential home. The assessments would begin next year and would also apply to non-residential property.

Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The council doesn't necessarily have to vote for one option or another on Tuesday, but could choose one on Tuesday if the members prefer, said public works Director Todd Blomstrom.

The addition of a funding source differs from the city’s recent property tax-related decisions. As of Sept. 6, calculations showed the 2012 city tax levy .

Last year's city property tax levy , and because of decreased home values most residents saw their city property taxes stay the same or decrease.

Apply Valley maintains approximately 175 centerline miles of city streets. Maintenance costs have been reduced by over $500,000 per year through changes in staffing, contracting and project delivery. 

But the overall condition of street pavement in Apply Valley is expected to decline based on current available road maintenance funding levels. The city uses microsurfacing, seal coating and crack sealing to extend the pavement’s surface life, but these maintenance methods have a diminishing return. 

“Everything is in need of maintenance and replacement eventually,” Blomstrom said. “If you get a backlog built up, it is so very difficult to come back from that situation.”

In the near future, about five miles of street will reach its 50-year service life each year. The cost to fully reconstruct an urban street ranges from $800,000 to $1 million per mile.

“Our streets are aging,” said Ron Hedberg, city finance director. “Reconstruction needs to be addressed.” 

The city council's meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday (moved from Thursday because of the Thanksgiving holiday) at the .

Which option should the city council choose to fund road reconstruction? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.


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