Interesting. After reading one person's account of their actual percentage tax change, I looked at mine. From the 2001 year to the 2002 year, the percentage change was an 11.6 percent increase in 2002 and a 6.5 percent PROPOSED increase in 2003. However, that was BEFORE Pawlenty and the sick economy. So the best I can hope for is probably the same as 2002. Which, however, EXCEEDS the "cap" that the local agencies committed to. They had no clue of what the legislature was going to do and probably assumed something like the past. What we're hearing is NOTHING like the past, so it is fruit-basket-upset in the taxing business.
By the way, my SCHOOL DISTRICT total is about 25 cents per property tax dollar. I have an interesting proposal: Let the state government refund ALL the money they collected to support schools. Then let them give us all a tax CREDIT if we turn it over to the school of our choice. Boy, imagine if I had two or three kids in school. It might cost me $20,000 to pay their educational costs. And what I'm paying the government for a mid-market house is about ONE-FIFTIETH of that! Of course, I'm also paying when my check is withheld and when I pay sales tax. But does it come anywhere NEAR the $20,000 it would cost to educate my three kids (imaginary for the sake of argument)? Can't see how since if you add ALL my taxes together and assume it bought nothing BUT school, I still wouldnt be within shouting distance of the $20,000 (which is a modest figure by the way). So given all that, I think the money should be given back. Also, repeal the compulsory education laws. Let's just see how committed Minnesota is to having educated citizens. Obviously not NEARLY as committed as when I moved here in the 60's. -------------- Jim Mork--Cooper "Only a LUNATIC would cut schools in order to pay for more bombs." "We hold these truths to be self-evident....that the just power of governments derives from the consent of the governed." Declaration of Independence Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
