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Council, administration did keep word on budget

The budget approved by the Minot City Council, which includes a minor reduction in property taxes to be paid to the city, is welcome news.

This budget follows two years of tax increases, including a sizable one last year from which some are still reeling and which continues to be the impetus for public disappointment with city officials.

Tax increases aren’t the only cause of the unhappiness of some in the community with city leaders, with the other reasons having been communicated clearly to the council and administration directly and through both traditional and social media.

There will be those skeptical of this budget as well – those who might take issue with a particular expenditure or with expenditures or those who simply on principle believe the City spends too much.

However, it is important to point out that with the approval of the budget, city council members kept their word. When last year’s property taxes increased so dramatically, city officials indicated that it was more of an adjustment and not the beginning of a trend. The reasoning is that in prior years the City of Minot had become reliant on sales tax revenue to fund basic city services and sales tax revenue declined steeply after the oil boom faded. Moving back to depending on property taxes for services was essential, officials stated, and that is certainly the norm in most municipal budgets.

So while some will remain aggravated with city hall for the budget, for spending and for other issues, officials did make an assertion last year, and they did keep their word.

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