By Marlowe Hamerston
MnSF property tax/
income security committee

The Minnesota Senior Federation-supported legislation establishing a 5 percent limit to what the property tax can take from a Minnesota homestead property owner’s income was heard in the property tax division of the House of Representatives tax committee Feb. 23. Rep. Joe Atkins, the chief author, made an excellent presentation to the property tax committee of the thrust of HF856 and was followed by the equally fine testimony of MnSF tax committee member, Bob Klemenhagen.

The House property tax division must now decide if it shall be sent on to the full tax committee for inclusion in the final tax legislation. There is some opposition to add a super circuit breaker to the present property tax refund program. This opposition can only be overcome by membership of the Senior Federation throughout the state making it clear that we expect promises of property tax reform made at election time to be upheld now that representatives are in office. We don’t need rebates and band-aid approaches - we need the long-term solution provided by HF856.

We need you to make a phone call to House representatives listed below as well as the legislator from your district. Tell them we need a limit of 5 percent on what can be taken from your income by the property tax. Every other tax has a limit - one must be established for the property tax.

Paul Marquart, chair of the property tax relief and local sales tax division 651/296-6829, 800/551-5520

Diane Loeffler 651/296-4219

Denise Dittrich 651/296-5513

Joe Mullery 651/296-4262

Sarah Anderson 651/296-5511

Ron Erhardt 651/296-4363

Randy Demmer 651/296-9236

Morrie Lanning 651/296-5515, 800/657-3742

Michael Paymar 651/296-4199

Robin Brown 651/296-8216

Ann Lenczewski, chair of the full tax committee and member of the property tax division 651/296-4218

Margaret Kelliher, speaker of the House 651/296-0171    

Marty Seifert, minority leader 651/296-5374, 888/234-1242