There is a lot of misinformation being put out there about property taxes. I want to take this opportunity to set the record straight.

Property taxes went down for nearly one-third of Minnesota homeowners last year. Not only that, property taxes are projected to decrease for most homeowners next year as well! The “market-value exclusion” is protecting homeowners from property tax increases like the “market-value credit” could not. This is because the credit was only fully funded one time in 10 years. One time! The failure to fund the credit program resulted in needlessly higher property taxes across the state, year after year. Oh, and by the way, the claim that “property taxes went up for 95 percent of Minnesotans” has been labeled misleading by both WCCO radio and MPR.

Another “fact” being talked about is how 2012 was a record high for property taxes. That is true. But so was 2011. And so was 2010. And so was 2009. And 2008. And 2007. You get the idea. Property taxes have gone up every year. To say 2012 was a record year is misleading at best. Rich Murray has done a great job protecting property tax payers in Greater Minnesota. With stable local-government-aid funding, decreasing property taxes for homeowners and a budget surplus, Rich has a track record of success for us. We should send him back to St. Paul to keep up the good work.

 

Joshua Parks

Hollandale