STATE OF MINNESOTA 17th MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND LOCAL SALES TAX DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Marquart, Chair of the Division, Called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 in the Albert Lea City Council Chambers.
Committee Legislative Assistant Paul Cumings noted the roll.
Members of the Division Present:
MARQUART, Paul (Chair)
BROWN, Robin (Vice-Chair)
DITTRICH, Denise
Members of the Division Excused:
ANDERSON, Sarah
DEMMER, Randy
ERHARDT, Ron
LANNING, Morrie
LENCZEWSKI, Ann
LOEFFLER, Diane
MULLERY, Joe
PAYMAR, Michael
Representative Marquart gave an introduction to the hearing and the Property Tax Relief Divisions goals in having the hearings across Minnesota.
Representative Brown, Vice Chair of the Division, welcomed the Division to Albert Lea and welcomed members of the public to the Division Meeting.
Representative Paul Marquart, Chair of the Division, gave an overview of Property Taxes in Minnesota and spoke about the impact of rising property taxes.
At 9:21 AM, Reprsentative Brown took over as chair. Representative Brown, Vice Chair of the Division, chaired the public testimony portion of the hearing. Vice Chair Brown asked for public testimony concerning the impact of rising property taxes on cities, counties, school districts, individuals, families and anyone else that wants to testify.
Bob Goldman, Attorney for Senior Housing in Albert Lea, testified on the impacts of property taxes. Diane Landaas, Vice Chair of Trades and Labor Senior House, testified on the impacts of property taxes. Dave Jacobson, Mayor of the City of Wells, testified on the impacts of property taxes. Sandy Stephens, Manager of Senior Court, testified on the impacts of property taxes. Bruce Boyce, Waseca County Coordinator, testified on the impacts of state mandates as well as property taxes. Kelly Harder, Director of Human Services for Steele County, testified on the impacts of state mandates as well as property taxes. Brian Buhmann, Freeborn County Director of the Department of Human Services, testified on the impacts of state mandates as well as property taxes.
Representative Marquart spoke about the need for Property Tax Relief and some of the ideas that came up last year.
Randy Kehr, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, testified on the impacts of property taxes and the possibilities of educational opportunities concerning business in our high schools. Glen Mathiason, Freeborn County Board of Commissioners Chair, testified on the impacts of property taxes.
Dave Jacobson, Mayor of the City of Wells, testified concerning the foreclosure situation in his city. Kelly Harder, Director of Human Services for Steele County, spoke again on the impacts of state mandates as well as property taxes.
Representative Marquart resumed the chair at 10:08 AM.
Representative Paul Marquart, Chair of the Committee, adjourned the meeting at 10:13 AM.
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Representative Paul Marquart, Chair
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Paul Cumings, Committee Legislative Assistant