#moretax

This was pulled from a recent West Sherburne Tribune article. Apparently the insane property taxes in Big Lake, MN do not cover resident's ability to enjoy local parks. -- Dave Dennis, city resident, has been knocking on doors for four months, attempting to secure signatures to a petition.

The petition, which is to be presented to the Big Lake City Council at some time in the future, is intended to motivate them to ban parking fees for cars, boats and trailers at Lakeside Park.

Dennis has secured 100 signatures so far and is hoping with some publicity to get more.

He contends parking should be free at the park.

Dennis is bucking a longtime policy of fees at the park.  They were instituted many years ago, and the limit of 30 boats and trailers at a time was instituted to better control boat traffic on the lake.

At times during the 1980’s and 1990’s, when boating was at its zenith on the two lakes, as many as 100 vessels would be weaving through the waters.

The policy now calls for a daily charge of $5 per car, $15 per boat and trailer May through October. Residents can secure season passes for discounts. Non-residents can also secure passes to save money.

Mike Goebel, city public works director who is in charge of Lakeside Park, says there must be income generated to cover costs of maintenance to the park.

“There is a cost to do business,” he said. “This is a user fee, or should people be taxed for it?”

He estimates the parking passes generate from $40,000 to $60,000 annually, dependent on usage.