In earlier posts,* Bluestem's been keeping an eye on the kerfuffle attending House Tax Czar Greg Davids' claim that the termination of the Homestead Credit was Governor Dayton's idea.
From the looks of the headline of an editorial just posted by DL Online, Bluestem isn't alone in giving Davids the stink-eye: Lawmakers can’t blame Dayton:
Maybe it’s a Republican conspiracy to drive DFL Gov. Mark Dayton over the edge.
Or may be it just shows breathtaking chutzpa.
Whatever the case, Dayton is understandably irate about a claim by Republican State Rep. Greg Davids that it was Dayton — not the Republican legislative leadership — that proposed ending the Market Value Homestead Credit, a tax shift that is resulting in higher property taxes across the state.
If we remember right — and it wasn’t that long ago — Dayton wanted to raise income taxes on the rich.
He had to accept higher property taxes instead as part of a settlement to end the 20-day government shutdown.
Republicans went to the mat over “no new taxes.”
By that they mean income taxes, apparently, since their policy is resulting in higher property taxes from Austin (15 percent) to St. Louis County (5.7 percent) to Beltrami County (7 percent) and almost certainly to Detroit Lakes and Becker County.
In fact, even if Becker County holds its levy increase to zero percent, a county official recently said that property taxes on agricultural land will still go up as much as 9 percent — due entirely to the Republican-majority Legislature killing the Market Value Homestead Credit. . . .
Go read the rest at DLOnline.
We've also asked readers to keep in mind the headline of the article in the West Central Tribune where Davids first threw out that whopper. In Key lawmaker says tax credit elimination is right decision, WCT staff writer Carolyn Lange wrote:
The elimination of the homestead tax credit on property taxes will mean tax increases for most property owners but should be a more stable funding mechanism for counties and cities.
“It was the right thing to do,” said Greg Davids, chairman of the House Tax Committee, during a presentation Tuesday in Willmar to local elected officials, who’ve been struggling to understand the local consequences of changes made in the state tax bill.
The bill that was approved during a special session in July includes the elimination of the market value homestead credit, which gave a tax break to homestead property owners by lowering their gross taxes.
Remember: Davids thinks it's the right think to do. And he wants to pin it on Dayton. Okay then.
Photo: Representative Davids in Willmar, pointing four figures at himself. Photo via West Central Tribune.
*Relaed posts: Mr. Accountability: Greg Davids not ready to take hit on homestead credit property tax change
This is not what reform looks like: Faribault paper calls out legislators on end of Homestead Credit
Blue county, red queen: Blue Earth Co citizens to pay 9.2 % more in property taxes for 3% levy hike
When oh when on when will all these local elected officials, so many of whom lean R, see the proverbial light and finally call out their legislators for this b.s.? I am beginning to wonder if they are unwilling to do so due to some perverse party loyalty, or that they truly do not care.
Posted by: Mike Worcester | Aug 31, 2011 at 04:39 PM