Associated Press
ROSEVILLE, Minn. -- A long-running struggle between church and state ended with the Roseville City Council excusing a small local congregation from a $158,000 assessment for a rebuilt road.
The Roseville City Council voted 3-2 Monday night to change its city assessment policy and to excuse Advent Lutheran Church from being the only property owner on Josephine Road to have to pay an assessment.
While at least two council members said that a special assessment is not a tax, they agreed to remove the assessment from the church.
The conflict began 18 months ago when the city of Roseville sent the 300-member church a notice that it would be assessed $158,000 of the $540,000 cost to rebuild Josephine Road.
