Rep. Lislegard & Sen. Hauschild Announce Agreement on Property Tax Cuts and
$80 Million in Funding for Iron Range Projects
House and Senate Tax Conference Committee Agrees to Hauschild/Lislegard Proposal
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – State Representative Dave Lislegard (DFL – Aurora), Chair of the House Property Tax Division Committee and State Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL - Hermantown), both members of the House and Senate Tax Conference Committee, announced the joint House/Senate agreement on the Tax bill included provisions that include many critical investments and permanent property tax cuts for homeowners on the Iron Range and northeastern Minnesota.
Returning production tax dollars to core Iron Range communities has been a priority for both legislators this session. The proposal appropriates taconite taxes, which are paid in lieu of property taxes, to leverage significant investments in schools, communities, and recreation while cutting property taxes for hard working families and senior citizens.
Hauschild and Lislegard introduced the original bills in April, and both were heard in their respective Senate and House Tax Committees. Rep. Roger Skraba (R – Ely) is a co-author of Rep. Lislegard’s original House measure.
“Senator Hauschild and I have been working to cut taxes and invest in our local communities. I am incredibly blessed and honored to represent the people of the Iron Range and believe the dollars generated by mining on the core Iron Range should remain in the legislative districts that actually produce the wealth,” said Rep. Lislegard. “The projects in this bill are benefitting the communities and people whose hard work in our taconite mines fuel our region’s prosperity. They are the ones who rightly deserve to share in these resources to enhance their communities, and that’s what we’re committed to ensuring.”
Serving as chair of the House Property Tax Division, Rep. Lislegard and Senate Tax Committee Member Sen. Hauschild have proposed the largest increase in the Taconite Homestead Credit since it was frozen in 1998. The agreed-upon proposal would increase the Taconite Homestead Credit from an average of $289-$315 per homeowner to $515 per homeowner – a nearly 77% increase. The newly updated Taconite Homestead Credit would be ongoing each year, making the tax cut permanent.
The Taconite Homestead Credit applies to homeowners in school districts in the Taconite Relief Area (TRA). These school districts include Nashwauk-Keewatin, Cook County, Greenway, Chisholm, Lake Superior, Ely, Hibbing, Mt. Iron-Buhl, St. Louis County, Mesabi East, and Rock Ridge.
“By increasing the Taconite Homestead Credit, we can provide relief to Iron Range families immediately and permanently," said Sen. Hauschild. “After a 26-year freeze, it’s the right thing to do for the Iron Range.”
Rep. Lislegard and Sen. Hauschild’s Mineral Article in the Tax Bill also authorizes and directs the Commissioner of the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation to provide additional funding for projects across Northeastern Minnesota.
Tax Bill – Agreed Grants to Local Schools, Communities, & Non-Profits
Lone Pine Township/Nashwauk - $3,000,000 for sewage treatment infrastructure.
City of Hibbing - $1,150,000 for a housing development.
City of Babbitt - $1,700,000 – ADA compliance, park, and ice arena renovations.
City of Tower - $3 million for water infrastructure.
Buyck Volunteer Fire Department - $950,000 for a new fire hall and training center.
City of Hibbing - $550,000 for the Hull Rust Mine historic site.
Voyageur Snowmobile/Voyageurs ATV - $750,000 for a joint maintenance facility in Orr.
Hibbing Public Utilities - $4,700,000 for water infrastructure.
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa - $160,000 for a playground and park.
Hibbing Public Schools - $300,000 for historic school building maintenance.
Cook County - $2,250,000 for housing and a new solid waste transfer station.
Silver Bay - $6,000,000 for infrastructure water, sewer, and broadband replacement.
Two Harbors - $250,000 for band stand repairs and Odegard Park and Trail restoration.
Ely Public Schools - $5,250,000 for baseball field renovations and a new athletic complex.
Northland Learning Center - $2,080,000 for a new facility and the Alternative Learning Center.
St. Louis County - $2.1 million for the Canyon Integrated Solid Waste Management Campus.
St. Louis County - $500,000 for the demolition of the closed public school in Hoyt Lakes.
St. Louis County Schools #2142 - $600,000 for South Ridge School & Babbitt/Tower
Mesabi Trail - $500,000 for the Aurora to Hoyt Lakes Spur.
Lake Superior School District - $150,000 to support an emergency career program.
Pioneer Mine Historical Site in Ely - $50,000 for maintenance and displays.
Lake Vermilion Cultural Center - $100,000 to renovate the historical facility in Tower.
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa - $50,000 to the for-food shelf expenses.
Northwoods Friends of the Arts in Cook - $25,000 for facility upgrades and programs.
Crystal Bay Township - $100,000 to for a septic project at the Clair Nelson Community Center.
Veterans on the Lake in Ely - $400,000 for housing facility replacement.
Save Our Ship in Knife River - $200,000 to for shelter construction.
Cook County Higher Education - $200,000 for commercial drivers' licenses and trades training.
Prospector Loop ATV - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Babbitt ATV/Snowmobile Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Cook County ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Finland Snowmobile/ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Ranger Snowmobile/ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Wild Country ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Range Riders ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Quad Cities ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Northern Traxx ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
City of Buhl - $500,000 for infrastructure improvements.
Lyric Center for the Arts in Virginia - $50,000 for repairs and renovation.
East Range Day Activities Center - $350,000 for building renovations.
Cherry Township - $250,000 for lights and recreation center upgrades.
Northern Lights Music Festival - $300,000 for festival support.
Mesabi Fit Coalition - $3.6 million for renovations of the former YMCA in Mountain Iron.
City of Chisholm - $2.72 million for the public works facility and ice arena.
City of Gilbert - $1 million for the Gilbert Community Center.
City of Biwabik - $1,360,000 for housing infrastructure and a public safety facility.
City of Eveleth - $3,990,000 million for business park utilities and Hippodrome renovations.
City of Meadowlands - $700,000 – Community Center and Park.
Central Iron Range Sanitary Sewer District - $1.2 million for infrastructure repairs.
Minnesota Discovery Center - $5,620,000 million for facility upgrades.
City of Mountain Iron - $2,500,000 for the Outdoor Recreation Center and infrastructure.
MN Forest Zone Trappers Association - $225,000 for the Training and Development Center.
Sturgeon Chain Lake Association - $200,000 for an engineering and hydrology study.
Giants Ridge - $12,800,000 for facilities upgrades.
Dept. of Iron Range Resources - $500,000 for flood and economic Relief Programs.
Alborn Dirt Devils ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Ely Igloo Snowmobile Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Essentia Health Virginia Regional Foundation - $50,000 for a substance use disorder program.
CC Riders Snowmobile Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Path Blazers Snowmobile Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Cook Timberwolves Snowmobile Club - $100,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Crane Lake Voyageurs Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
City of Virginia - $3,300,000 for modernization of the Virginia Hospital E.R. and behavior mental health rooms.
Pequaywan Area Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Eveleth Trail Hawks Snowmobile Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Vermilion Penguins Snowmobile Club - $100,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Silver Trail Riders Snowmobile & ATV Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Voyageur Snowmobile Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Mesabi Sno Voyageurs Club - $25,000 for trail maintenance and equipment.
Rock Ridge Schools - $1,200,000 for demolition of James Madison school in Virginia.
The legislation is now on its way to Governor Walz for his signature.