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State Representative Matt Dean
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-3018
For more information contact: Amber Berhow 651-296-5520
NEWS COLUMN
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM REPRESENTATIVE MATT DEAN May 5, 2006
Greetings from the Capitol!
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS
This week the House passed a one-time property tax relief measure.
Under the legislation, homeowners would be issued rebate checks this fall equal to 9% of the net tax on their 2006 property tax statements.
Checks would be paid directly to an estimated 1.5 million Minnesota homeowners by October 1, 2006. Each eligible property owner would receive on average $185, totaling approximately $276.6 million in property tax relief. The money comes from a tax relief fund that gains money as the economy produces more money than expected. This over collection belongs to the taxpayer and this bill gives people their money back.
The legislation is contingent upon a favorable resolution of the tobacco fee lawsuit. Should the Minnesota Supreme Court find the health impact fee to be unconstitutional, these dollars would be used to offset those currently generated by the fee and would not be available for property tax relief. I am hopeful that this property tax rebate can be enacted, because Minnesotans already pay among the highest state and local taxes in the nation, and this money belongs with hard-working Minnesota families.
APPROPRIATIONS BILL
The House passed an appropriations bill that allocates $88 million of surplus dollars to core priorities and budget deficiencies. The majority of dollars will address public safety budget shortfalls: $33.7 will go to the state's sex offender program, and another $31 million will address growth in the state's mentally ill and dangerous population. This appropriation does not touch the tax relief fund. I am working with others to reform these dollars to the tax payers.
MERCURY REDUCTION BILL
2006 is a great year for the environment in the Minnesota legislature.
In addition to passing dedicated funding for conservation from existing sales tax revenue, the House appropriated $10 million for water quality. Now both the Senate and the House have unanimously approved a bill to reduce mercury emissions by 90% from the state's largest coal-fired power plants before 2015. We are surpassing the less stringent federal guideline, which only requires a 70% reduction by 2018. We expect Governor Pawlenty will sign this mercury reduction bill into law soon.
Thanks for reading, and do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns.
Have a great week!
News Items
- DEAN SWORN IN FOR FIFTH TERM - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 3:00PM)
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT DEAN SELECTED AS 2010 HENRY TOLL FELLOW - (Posted: 2010-05-26 00:00:00)
- State Rep. Dean Reacts to St. Croix Bridge Decision - (Posted: 2010-03-15 00:00:00)
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