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The St. Louis County Board has approved a preliminary property tax levy of $126,550,079, an increase of 8.5 percent for 2017. The increased money is needed to fund skyrocketing out-of-home placement costs and other investments in children and family services. At the same time, the County's growing property tax base means most people will see little change in their property taxes compared to two years ago

“After meeting yesterday afternoon with House Republican leaders, I have, with great reluctance, instructed the Department of Natural Resources to stop its mapping of so-called ‘private ditches’ under last year’s buffer legislation. The Republican legislators insisted that they did not intend those ditches to be included in the scope of the legislation, even though its buffering requirements would not take effect until November 2018

The St. Louis County Board has approved its 2016 budget in the amount of $358,733,410. Of most significance to tax payers is the fact that it includes no change in the levy, which will translate into a decrease in the county portion of property tax statements for most residents and business owners.

Property taxes for the second half of the year are due next week – on Thursday, October 15. With that deadline comes a reminder from the St. Louis County Auditor for anyone planning to mail their payment: please pay attention to the mailbox pick up time. Changes at the Duluth Post Office earlier this year have affected mail pick up times at mailboxes around the region.

The St. Louis County Board has voted to hold the maximum property tax levy flat for 2016 at $116.6 million, a 0 percent increase over last year. This is doubly good news for tax payers, because in addition to no increase in the levy, the growth in the economy and tax base means the County-portion of the property tax statement should decrease for the majority of residents

St. Louis County Commissioners are preparing to vote on the maximum property tax levy for 2016, and based on preliminary discussions, the Board reinforced their commitment to holding the levy at the same level as this year: $116.6 million. Commissioners are poised to vote on the zero percent levy increase at their next meeting, on Tuesday, September 22.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Hoeven (R-ND) today announced that their provision based on their Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act to help nonprofit organizations save money on energy efficiency upgrades passed the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources as part of a comprehensive energy package. Since nonprofits are tax-exempt entities, they cannot currently benefit from many energy support programs because the programs are often structured in the form of tax credits.

“Since 2002, state and local property taxes have risen by 86%. Property taxes are regressive, disproportionately affecting middle-class Minnesotans, and are levied without taking into account a taxpayer’s income or ability to pay the tax. State and local leaders are working together to stop this decade-long trend

Every year at this time, the Minnesota Department of Revenue releases a list of the preliminary maximum property tax levies that have been reported by local governments and have been passed by local school referenda. Local governments are required to set their preliminary levies by September 15 to provide citizens an opportunity to learn of and comment on proposed tax levels at Truth-in-Taxation hearings

Washington, D.C. - August 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that her bipartisan legislation to help fight homelessness among America’s veterans has passed the House and Senate and is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Klobuchar obtained 18 Democratic and Republican cosponsors for the bill in the Senate. The legislation improves homeless services outreach to rural and underserved urban veterans. Specifically, it strengthens an existing program that provides chronically homeless veterans with housing vouchers and case management services, such as help accessing counseling and job training.

Saint Paul - November 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property tax levies are proposed to increase an average of 1.2 percent statewide if proposed local tax levies are adopted by local governments later this year. Levy increases combined with the elimination of a state-paid homestead credit during the 2011 special legislative session will increase the amount of taxes paid by Minnesota taxpayers by an estimated 4.7 percent, or $379 million.

April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a 49-year-old Champlin woman pleaded guilty to her role in a mortgage fraud scheme involving at least 200 properties—principally in north Minneapolis—and mortgage proceeds of approximately $35 million. Gayle Deann Claus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Claus, who was indicted on June 15, 2010, along with two co-defendants, entered her plea before United States District Court Judge David S. Doty.

Saint Paul, MN - November 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property tax levies will increase an average of 2.6 percent statewide if proposed local tax levies are adopted later this year, the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today. This compares to last year’s 3.1 percent increase and an average change of 5.3 percent over the past three years

Saint Paul, MN - November 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property tax levies will increase an average of 3.5 percent statewide if proposed local tax levies are adopted later this year, the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today. This compares to last year’s increase of 5.6 percent and an average increase of 6.9 percent during the past three years.

September 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-06) asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to suspend and bar ACORN from its programs and funding