HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 04-21 Council to set voting date THE REVIEW For paramedic referendum / a
Council to set
voting
date
by Scott Carbon referendum that we can take the money
The date for a$189,000 police paramedic as it's collected and put it in escrow,"
referendum is expected to be decided by Miller said.
the Maplewood city council this Thursday The city attempted to receive special
night. legislative funding.But legislators were
If"technical problems"can be over- unwilling to pass any paramedic bill
come,City Manager Michael Miller is without a referendum provision.
expected to recommend that the election According to Miller the referendum will
"be held in the first week of June." ask citizens to decide whether Maplewood
But because Memorial Day will be can levy$189,000 in excess of the levy
observed on a Monday (May 31) that limit for the paramedic program.
presents"technical problems"in trying "It's a one shot affair,"he said.That
to set up election booths."The question means the referendum, if approved,
becomes whether we can hold the would be retroactive to taxes levied in
referendum on Tuesday, Wednesday, 1975 and collectable in 1976.
Thursday or even Saturday,"Miller told In future years Maplewood could
the Review Monday morning. continue to levy the $189,000 for the
Miller is hoping that the problem can be paramedic program beyond the levy limit
solved and that the referendum can be "for as many years as the city wishes,"
held"before school lets out and everyone Miller explained.
is on vacation." The council's meeting will be held at the
The date for the referendum is just one council room of the city hall,1380 Frost
of a series of problems that the paramedic ave.The public is welcome to attend the
program has experienced with its funding open meeting.
since last October.
Maplewood last October included
$189,000 for the paramedic program in its
1976 budget and expected that the money
could be levied beyond the state levy limit
law.
The city claimed that a state statute
allowed exceeding the levy limit.But Art
Roemer,state commissioner of revenue,
explained that the State Levy Limit
Review Board turned down Maplewood's
request because subsequent legislation
superceded the statute cited by Maple-
wood officials.
At that time,however,Miller credited
Roemer in suggesting what the city might
do to relieve its problem. "The depart-
ment of revenue has told us that if we wish
to leave it (the$189,000) and go for a