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Minnesota Farm Bureau president optimistic on property tax relief
The president of Minnesota Farm Bureau says he’s optimistic property tax relief for farmers will happen this year.
Kevin Paap tells Brownfield Farm Bureau formed a taskforce two years ago with a goal of finding alternatives to Minnesota farmland being unfairly taxed for capital bond referendums.
“House, garage and one acre works great for operating levies, but having that terrible tax burden on agricultural land is pretty hard and we want to have those discussions.”
A bill providing property tax relief failed in the Legislature last year, but Paap says he expects a different outcome when lawmakers reconvene March eighth.
“I think things will be different because we’ll have a tax bill. It was disappointing last year (not having a tax bill) coming out of the Legislature. I don’t know a lot about politics, but if it’s an election year I’m guessing we’re going to have a tax bill.”
Brownfield spoke to Paap during this week’s Minnesota Pork Congress in Minneapolis.
That is a good start. But, up here in Clay County the County part of our bill is 2/3 of the cost. Of that 60% is for social services, most of which are mandated by the State. There is room for much more progress down in St. Paul.