Shakopee Mayor Wants Your Help Cutting Taxes

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Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke wants to know what city services and programs you think could be cut to save taxpayer money.

To that end, he's created a short survey on his website for residents to complete.

"I am not as interested in additional things you’d spend money on (we have A LOT of those), but more interested in ideas you have for where we can cut the amount of money we collect in taxes, now and in the future," he said in a post on Sunday.

City staff has recommended two ways the city can save money, including cutting the print publication of the Hometown Messenger altogether or to once per year instead of four times (which costs $23,000).

They also suggested using contract janitorial services to save approximately $20,000. 

City councilors and  staff have been holding workshops through August () to focus on what to include and not include for 2013. The process includes:

• August/Early September – Budget workshops.
• September 15, 2012 – Council must set the preliminary tax rate. It is usually higher than the final levy. The city does not yet have all of the data from other entities on what will be happening with property tax levels, fees, etc. and it is set higher to make sure they do not have a shortfall if 2013 revenues are less than believed.
• December 31, 2012 – Approve final rate. This can stay the same or go down from the max set on Sept 15, and will probably change based on more accurate information.

Tabke's 2013 Budget Community Survey and guidelines can be found by clicking here.