Winter 2019-20 Hometown Messenger

PROPOSED 2020 CITY LEVY & BUDGET 2020 budget invests in infrastructure

2020 PROPERTY TAX LEVY COMPARISON

In December, the City Council will be asked to approve the 2020 tax levy and general fund budget. The budget emphasizes an investment in infrastructure with a $780,000 levy increase in funding for capital improvement, park development and street maintenance projects. For example, in 2020 residents will see more sealcoat projects, which are intended to have a long-term benefit on street conditions. "We have found by putting a sealcoat on a street a year or two earlier than we used to, we can extend the life of the pavement—sometimes by up to five or 10 years—which saves money in the long run," said Assistant City Engineer Ryan Halverson. The budget also includes a $200,000 increase in park funding to help close a projected gap between park dedication fees and planned projects. "To meet the expectations of our residents as

identified in the Envision Shakopee and Parks Master Plan process, we need to ensure we have funding necessary to deliver the great parks our residents are requesting," Assistant City Administrator Nate Burkett said. In September, the council approved a preliminary property tax levy of $20,380,500—a 5.98-percent increase from 2019. For the average-valued home increasing in value by 6.7 percent to $272,600, this equates to a $39 annual increase, which is approximately the same amount as the decrease many residents experienced last year. Absent any change in value, homeowners can expect a tax decrease of about $25. Shakopee's continued growth reduces the tax burden for property owners across the city. The city's overall tax capacity grew by more than 10 percent ($6.4 million) this year to $66.3 million. More than $1 million is related to new construction. This allows the city to increase its levy by approximately $346,000 without having a tax impact on existing properties. Share your feedback on the 2020 levy and budget at the annual public comment meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at City Hall.

2020 Market Value of $188,800 $38 tax increase

2020 Market Value of $272,600 $39 tax increase

2020 Market Value of $369,500 $24 tax increase

#AsktheCity: Why are lower-valued homes seeing higher tax increases? Property valuations depend on the market. Right now, lower-valued homes are increasing in value more quickly, due in part to demand. Thus, these homes have the highest property valuation increase and are most affected by tax levy changes. Contact Scott County Assessor's Office to learn more.

Shakopee's history of telephone service is a complicated tangle of mergers and competition. The city's first telephone was installed in Strunk’s Old Drug Store between 1881 and 1882. It was connected to the local depot, courthouse and several private establishments. A year later, C.J. Strunk made the first long-distance telephone call. The following year, NorthwesternTelephone Co. (later Northwestern Bell) received a 10-year franchise becoming the city's first official telephone company. A LOOK BACK

Shakopee. Each company ran its own city and farm lines, resulting in residents having to use two separate lines and phones. Customer complaints ensued. On Aug. 30, 1915, the Shakopee Telephone Co. offered to purchase all of Merchants and Farmers shares. The offer was accepted, and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the purchase in November. In July 1923, Tri State Telephone and Telegraph Co. opened a long- distance company and became the majority shareholder of the Shakopee Telephone Co. Northwestern Bell eventually purchased Tri State Telephone Co. to become Shakopee’s primary company. Shakopee went from using switchboards to dial telephones at 1 a.m. on Oct. 5, 1958. Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. remained Shakopee’s principal telephone company until 1991, when it officially merged with two other Bell companies as a result of a AT&T's anti-trust breakup and became known as US West Communication. The company later merged with Qwest in 2000 and CenturyLink in April 2011.

Shakopee’s first dial telephone was installed in the home of E. J. Leibold in 1958.

At the turn of the century, Green andWestern Telephone Co. built Shakopee’s first telephone exchange. Soon after, several companies emerged, including the Shakopee Telephone Co. and Merchants and Farmers Telephone Co. of

1881-82 Shakopee’s first telephone was installed in Strunk’s Old Drug Store.

1893 Northwestern

1915 Shakopee Telephone Co. purchases all of Merchants and Farmers shares for 40 cents on the dollar.

1928 Tri State Telephone Company became the majority shareholder of the Shakopee Telephone Co.

2000 US West Communication merged with Qwest.

1902 The Shakopee Telephone Co. was incorporated in April.

1958 Shakopee officially began using dial telephones.

Telephone Co. was granted a franchise in Shakopee for a period of 10 years.

1892 The first long distance telephone call was made to St. Paul, Minn.

ca. 1900 Green andWestern Telephone Co. builds Shakopee’s first telephone exchange.

1904 Merchants and

1923 In July, Tri State Telephone and Telegraph Co. opened a long-distance telephone company in Shakopee.

1931 Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. acquired Tri State Telephone Co.

1991 As a result of an anti- trust breakup of AT&T,

2011 Qwest

Farmers Telephone Co. of Shakopee was incorporated.

merged with CenturyLink.

Northwestern Bell became US West Communication.

Sources: Coller, II, Julius A., "The Shakopee Story," North Star Pictures, Inc., 1960; McMeal, Harry B., "Telephony The American Telephone Journal – Vol. 74," Telephony Publishing Company, 1918; Interstate Commerce Commission. "Reports and Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States -Vol. 180," United Stated Government Printing Office, 1932.

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