A stroke of the pen by Gov. Tim Pawlenty gives cities of the first class the opportunity to give some property tax revenue to county historical societies.
Signed March 19, the law strikes language that prohibits these large cities from appropriating property tax revenues to the county historical society. Current law states that smaller cities or towns can appropriate up to 0.02418 percent of its taxable market value. No funds can be appropriated unless the society is affiliated with and approved by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Currently, Duluth, Minneapolis and St. Paul are the only cities of the first class in the state. It is expected that after certification of the next federal decennial census that Rochester, and possibly Bloomington, will reach the 100,000 population threshold required to be a city of the first class.
Sponsored by Rep. Andy Welti (DFL-Plainview) and Sen. Ann Lynch (DFL-Rochester), the law takes effect July 1, 2008.
HF2827*/SF2690/CH158