Prior Lake candidates spar over tax and spend

Challengers said in the televised debate that residents shouldn't be asked to pay more; incumbents say the city's portion of taxes is less than it is in neighboring cities.

Star Tribune

Last update: October 15, 2009 - 11:14 PM

Prior Lake's fierce divisions over taxes and spending were on display yet again Thursday night as candidates for mayor and City Council faced off in a debate televised live throughout the community.

"We need someone with business experience who can go in and question that spending so we don't have to knock on doors of residents who have been laid off or are taking salary cuts and ask them for more money," said Mike Myser, a candidate for mayor. "If the current council won't do that, maybe we need a change."

Warren Erickson, seeking reelection to the council, offered perhaps the stoutest defense of the status quo.

"Only 25 cents of your dollar of taxes goes to the city," he said. "Prior Lake has the lowest tax rate of any city around us. Our county's taxes" -- two county commissioners sat in the audience -- "are higher than Dakota County's. We only control part of it."

The city has been divided for years between two broad factions. One applauds the burst of building activity that has substantially remade the city over the past several years, considering it long overdue as its population has grown. The other points mainly to the tax consequences, noting that tax collections keep rising.

Mayor Jack Haugen, a leading advocate of the makeover, chose not to run this fall. Of the three mayoral candidates present Thursday night, newcomer Troy Presler took perhaps the softest line, saying that a long-term vision is the key.

Council Member Steve Millar, seeking to shift to the mayor's seat, took the middle position, at times defending the council's actions but also suggesting that it may not have done enough.

"We need to do a better job controlling spending," he said. "We should get into the financial aspects deeper. We also have a very good staff and we should start challenging staff to find deeper cuts."

The city is proposing another tax increase this year, pointing to the need to fix what more than one candidate Thursday night described as badly decaying roads.

Myser took the most aggressive line, saying that he had met with the city's finance director and already has identified cuts that could prevent that tax increase. For example, he said, the city doesn't need a contingency fund when it has ample cash reserves.

The candidates took similarly differing positions on the other issue that raises blood pressure in the city: the Shakopee tribe.

Presler praised the cooperative relationship that Haugen has championed, pointing to millions in tribal contributions to city betterment. Millar said each issue needs to be taken as it comes, but he would offer no broad support to tribal requests. He said that while it's "not a black-and-white issue," he'd look out first for the city's interests and doesn't want the tribe competing with city-based businesses.

Of the council candidates who appeared earlier in a much more mild-mannered candidate forum, Dave Thompson and Richard Keeney -- the latter appearing via video clips -- took arguably the hardest line on taxes and spending.

Thompson spoke of the "sticker shock" he has felt when it comes to Prior Lake taxes. Keeney, who came the closest of any unsuccessful candidate last time around to being elected, said that while it's "easy to dream" about what to do, he is the one "prepared to make the tough decisions."

Most other candidates, while promising to be careful with money, praised the building program or stressed quality of life issues that must not be sacrificed.

"We have a charming little community here," Rebecca Radcliffe said.

David Peterson • 952-882-9023