Dear Neighbors,
It’s been another busy week in St. Paul as the first committee deadlines are rapidly approaching. While the mountain of bad ideas and policies continues to pile up, I nevertheless am committed to keep fighting to make sure that government spending and growth are held in check and that we are upholding the values and principles upon which our nation was founded.
On Monday, we received word that the state’s budget surplus is largely unchanged, sitting still at $17.5 billion. In reality, the surplus is closer to $20 billion, but since the new forecast requires state economists to factor in inflation, the bottom line number is $17.5 billion.
The massive surplus continues to be proof that Minnesotans are being severely overtaxed. All of us are dealing with the significant impacts of inflation caused by the failed policies of the Biden/Walz economies, so we need to make sure we put more money back into your family budgets.
That’s why House Republicans unveiled their “Give it Back” tax plan this week. This is a package of proposals that provide immediate and long-term relief for Minnesotans.
Here are the details:
- One-time rebate checks and a one-time child tax credit are available for two years. The checks are estimated to be $1250 for single filers and $2500 for joint filers. The $1800 tax credit per child under the age of 18 comes without strings attached to its purpose or use.
- Elimination of the tax on Social Security benefits to provide 472,902 Minnesotans with an average tax reduction of $1,277 dollars. The list of states that tax Social Security income shrank to just 11 in 2023.
- An additional $3 billion in permanent tax relief comes in reducing both the first and second-tier tax rates by 1% each to 4.35% and 5.8% respectively. Minnesota’s lowest tax rate is higher than the highest tax bracket in 24 states and is consistently ranked one of the highest-taxed states in the country. Anyone who pays income taxes would see a reduction in their taxes under this plan.
- Adjustment of the homestead market value exclusion would give $35 million a year in relief. Rising property evaluations and a tight housing market mean people need relief wherever they can get it. For many, their home is their single largest asset, and this change will allow them to keep more of their home’s value in their bank account each year.
These are common sense proposals that would put money directly back into your pockets. Minnesotans deserve this tax relief, and I will keep fighting for you.
In addition to this tax package, I was able to secure a hearing for my bill, House File 2054, earlier today in the Property Tax Division. The bill would lower property taxes for resorts by increasing the tier thresholds. You can read the bill here: https://bit.ly/41EeE4d
Staying in Touch
Please be sure to reach out to me to share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4333 or via email at rep.josh.heintzeman@house.mn.gov.
God bless,
Josh