Fiscal Responsibility

In the past 10 years, the City of Anoka has purchased close to $28 million in property, with much of the land still sitting unused and no longer on the tax rolls.  Perhaps the most glaring example is the Highland Park neighborhood adjacent to Green Haven Golf Course.  Between 2015 and 2024, the City Council has approved the purchase of 35 properties in the Highland Park neighborhood at a cost of about $9.5 million.  This includes homes, duplexes, and small apartment buildings.  All of the properties have been demolished at considerable cost to the city.  The city has had the responsibility to maintain the vacant land, i.e. mowing and tree trimming and this, over time, has been an expense to the city, and of course, all of these properties have been removed from the tax rolls.

On August 29th, the City Council voted 3-2 to purchase the industrial property at 649 Garfield Street in the Highland Park neighborhood area for $2.3 million—more than three times its assessed value.  To pay for this unnecessary purchase, the City Council pulled $1.3 million from funds set aside for much needed capital improvements in 2025.  Now the Council will face the challenge of finding an additional $1 million plus $70,000 in interest to complete the purchase.

This troubling pattern of property purchases has reduced the City’s reserved fund, postponed needed improvements to City property, and has reduced the number of property tax payers in Anoka—burdening the remaining tax payers.

I believe that there should be NO more expensive property purchases without broad community input and an approved plan.  Most, if not all, of these purchases, have taken place without a clear plan and path forward.