Bennett, committee to discuss property taxes

District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett and members of the House Property Tax and Local Government Finance Committee and will host a listening session in Albert Lea on Saturday to get input from area

residents about property taxes.

The session will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Prairie Wind Coffee, 211 S. Broadway.

Bennett, R-Albert Lea, said she invited House Property Tax Committee Chairman Steve Drazkowski and other committee members so they can hear firsthand how people are overwhelmed by rising property taxes in Albert Lea and the district.

“Rising property taxes are an issue that has a significant impact on the budgets of families and farmers in our community,” Bennett said. “This listening session will help us as legislators get a better grasp of the real impacts of rising property taxes and help members of the Property Tax Committee understand the pressing need to get property taxes under control.”

Drazkowski said Bennett has had numerous complaints from residents who are upset to receive double-digit property tax increases, despite promises from previous legislatures that taxes would decline.

“I’m finding that this is a common complaint across Minnesota, so clearly past legislative actions aren’t working, and we need to find new solutions,” he said.

Bennett encouraged area residents with concerns about the impact of rising property taxes to attend the event and share their stories along with their ideas on how to address the issue.

People interested in attending and sharing their story are encouraged to register by calling Grant Erickson, Property Tax Committee assistant, at 651-296-9710 or emailing grant.erickson@house.mn.