…that no one knew about which made it impossible to track Excelsior Energy’s use of public money. Well the DNT wrote about a similar provision in the tax law which got passed in the special session without anyone noticing.
Lost in the tumult of the Legislature’s July special session was a huge change in state tax policy that will send property taxes climbing in 2012 across the state, even if local governments freeze their spending.
The Homestead Tax credit has been dramatically reduced. Poor homeowners are really going to take it on the chin. According to the story the result is that while our property tax rates will stay the same we in Duluth can expect an additional 5.7% increase in property taxes as a result.
Now just how this will work is apparently still a bit of a mystery to the County so please forgive me my puzzlement about the tax implications. I presume this does not include any increases that any of our local units of government may impose. According to another story St. Louis County will almost certainly impose a tax that matches the rate of inflation which is, according to the County, 3%.
What I do know is that just like the Red Plan tax increases and any City Increases a county increase and the reduction of the homestead tax credit will be exceedingly regressive falling most heavily on the shoulders of the poorest homeowners.
Who the hell is the damn Tax Chair? Oh yeah! I forgot. Tom Bakk.
