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Health & Fitness

Dare to Oppose the Levy

Jeff Schuette, Neighbor

  With no opposition groups organized to oppose the School District 196 Levy. The honor falls on the local Republicans. This does not mean that all Republicans oppose the levy. We feel that at least both sides of this issue should be explored and we feel there is a duty to inform citizens. That being said......
Here are some facts about the proposed property tax increase:

  • This referendum would increase the property tax levy from $1,110.95 to $1,485.95 per pupil - an increase of over 33%!    We thought the DFL Legislature increased the funding for schools!?!? Now they are backing this levy too!
  • Supporters of tax increases make sure these referenda are brought up in election off years, when busy taxpayers are less likely to get out to the polls.  This makes it easy for the supporters of these tax increases to turn out their supporters and push through their tax hike, even when it is opposed by the community.
  • For properties valued $100,000 to $500,000 - the levy portion of your property taxes will double.  For example, it will increase from $78 to $160 on a $100,000 property, from $176 to $360 on a $225,000 property, and from $392 to $799 on a $500,000 property.
  • This impacts renters too - not just homeowners.  Property tax is an expense that must be paid by landlords and is passed on to their renters through higher rental rates.
  • With the existing levy that voters have already approved, and the annual budget increase the school district will get from the state, there is no reason that ISD196 shouldn’t be able to provide our children with a quality education.  The solution to budget problems isn’t always higher taxes - we need to be better stewards of the resources that we have and holding certain favorable school programs out in front to be cut is also wrong.
    • It is important that you get out this Tuesday to stand up and vote - make your voice heard!  To find out where to vote and to view a sample ballot, log on to http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

    The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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