CHAIR DRAZKOWSKI, REP. HANCOCK TO HOLD PROPERTY TAX TOWN HALL MEETING IN BEMIDJI

ST. PAUL – Last year, Minnesota House Property Tax and Local Government Finance Committee Chairman Steve Drazkowski and State Representative Dave Hancock (R-Bemidji) held a property tax listening session in Bemidji to hear from residents concerned about rising property taxes.

On Friday, February 19 those same lawmakers will hold another town meeting in Bemidji to explain what was accomplished last session on the property tax relief front, and to gather feedback from area residents.

The meeting will be held in Bemidji on Friday, February 19 at the Eckles Community Center, 9735 Cardinal Road, beginning at 12:00 noon.

"Last year we were pleased to hear from so many area residents who had been negatively impacted by high property taxes," Hancock said. "This meeting will allow us to share how we addressed these issues in the Minnesota House and learn if there are other ways we can help."

"Area residents gave us strong ideas on how we could help ease their property tax burden," Chair Drazkowski said. "We listened and acted accordingly, and now we want to explain how the House-approved changes would benefit Greater Minnesota as well as learn about any other property tax issues that our overwhelming our taxpayers."

Last session the Minnesota House approved omnibus taxes legislation that would have eliminated the statewide business property tax for small business owners, cut school district construction levy burdens on farmers in half, and provided over $2 billion in tax relief to hardworking Minnesotans. That bill awaits full legislative action during

the 2016 session, and is expected to be at the top of the priority list for legislators.

Hancock is strongly encouraging area residents to attend the event and learn more about the approved legislation and to share their property tax stories.