Senate Bill 318 (Local Government Property Tax and Fee Freeze): Introduced by Sen. Lawrence J. Pogemiller on January 13, 2005, to prohibit local governments from increasing property taxes or fees. The state would be required to pay local governments for any reductions made to state aid during the 2003-2004 legislative session. Details and Comments: http://www.minnesotavotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=31074
House Bill 169 (Veterans Property Tax Exemption): Introduced by Rep. Patti Fritz, Rep. Mike Jaros, Rep. Jeanne Poppe, Rep. Tom Rukavina and Rep. Andy Welti on January 12, 2005, to exempt from property taxes homes which a) qualify for homestead classification and b) are owned by a military veteran who has a permanent service-related disability. Details and Comments: http://www.minnesotavotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=31062 Senate Bill 155 (International Economic Development Zones): Introduced by Sen. Ann H. Rest on January 10, 2005, to allow qualified businesses within an "international economic development zone" to be exempt from or allowed a credit against certain property, income, and corporation taxes that are used primarily for international economic development. A qualified business would be a business that engages in international imports or exports, is certified by the foreign trade zone authority, pays each employee total compensation including benefits. The bill would designate an area a foreign trade zone if within the zone a regional distribution center is being developed, if the border of the zone is within 90 minutes of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The bill would give tax incentives to those who invest in the development of an international economic development zone: exemption from individual income taxes, from state sales tax, from property tax for 12 consecutive years (certain restrictions reduce exemptions to 6 years) until the year 2021 (HF45 Companion Bill). Details and Comments: http://www.minnesotavotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=30727 Senate Bill 186 (Housing and Redevelopment Authorities Competitive Bidding): Introduced by Sen. Scott D. Dibble and Sen. David H. Senjem on January 10, 2005, to provide a temporary exception (until August 1st, 2009) to competitive bidding requirements of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (HRA) for construction of a public transit facility financed with upcoming bond proceeds or federal subsidies (HF112 Companion Bill). Details and Comments: http://www.minnesotavotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=30689 Senate Bill 238 (School District Tax for Utilities): Introduced by Sen. Don Betzold, Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach, Sen. Steve Kelley, Sen. Steve Murphy and Sen. Gen Olson on January 13, 2005, to allow school districts to levy annually for building utility costs for buildings used primarily for "community education programs." The tax could be up to the lesser of the actual cost or $2 times the square footage of the facility. Details and Comments: http://www.minnesotavotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=30964 Senate Bill 261 (School District Taxation for Employee Health Care): Introduced by Sen. Dallas C. Sams and Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf on January 13, 2005, to allow school districts to tax as much as necessary to pay for the health care of eligible employees. Details and Comments: http://www.minnesotavotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=31342 Senate Bill 245 (Education Spending and Taxes): Introduced by Sen. Sharon Marko, Sen. John Marty, Sen. Tom Saxhaug, Sen. Rod Skoe and Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf on January 13, 2005, to make a variety of education finance changes. Among the changes, this bill: 1) increases the level of charter school building lease aid, 2) increases spending for early childhood education programs, 3) establishes a new "Way to Grow/School Readiness Program" for the state to promote development of children prebirth to age six, 4) increases general community education spending, 5) establishes a new after-school enrichment program focusing on Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods, 6) increases state aid for adult basic education, 7) increases basic population aid, 8) increases adult basic education limits, 9) allows for continued generation of limited English proficiency aid after the current limit of five or more years of daily membership in Minnesota public schools, 10) increases the basic education growth factor, 11) increases the special education excess cost aid, 12) increases basic education revenue, 13) allows school districts to tax up to $100 times the pupil units (rather than $90) for the lease of a building, 14) allows districts to tax up to 100% of the cost of unemployment insurance and legal judgements and 15) increases the level at which districts can tax for "safe schools" (HF148 Companion Bill). Details and Comments: http://www.minnesotavotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=30978 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
