Tax chairman coming to forum

Published 9:21 am Friday, September 23, 2011

The chairman of the Minnesota House Property Tax Commitee will attend the informational meeting Tuesday set up to talk about potential property tax increases in 2012, according to the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.

Greg Davids

The meeting has been organized for business owners to find out how the recently approved state budget, coupled with potential levy increases on both the city and county level, may impact property taxes.

The chamber is hoping to clarify the situation for business owners in regards to commercial property taxes.

Email newsletter signup

District 31B Rep. Greg Davids, a Republican, has served 10 terms in the House of Representatives and currently serves as speaker pro tempore. In addition to the Tax Committee, he serves on the Commerce and Regulatory Reform, Veterans Service Division and Ways and Means committees.

Local Chamber Executive Director Randy Kehr said he appreciates that Davids is willing to attend the meeting.

“I hope we are able to have an open dialogue around this issue and the impact it is having on commercial properties,” Kehr said.

The elimination of the market value homestead credit on the state level has created particular uncertainty among local business owners.

Local officials have said during the last couple weeks that even if local governments freeze their spending, residents can anticipate an automatic increase in property taxes, especially for nonhomestead, commercial and ag property. Any raises in levies would be a tax increase on top of that percentage.

District 27A Rep. Rich Murray and District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks will also be in attendance, along with Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams, Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever, County Assessor Ryan Rasmusson and County Auditor-Treasurer Dennis Distad.

The meeting is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Freeborn Room of the Freeborn County Courthouse.

If people have questions, they can contact the chamber at 373-3938.