Dear Neighbors,
This is the last week of the legislative session before next week’s
Easter/Passover break. The second deadline for legislative committees to pass
bills is today (Thursday). Here’s an update on what’s been going on:
March for Our Lives
A growing number of Minnesotans are demanding we do something about gun
violence this year. That was on full display Saturday, as 20,000 students and
others marched from Harriet Island to the Capitol to protest and demand policy
change. More voices, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk and Greater
Minnesota editorial boards like the Mankato Free Press are urging the
Republican majority to take action. Two common sense solutions we should be
acting on are universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders to
keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people who pose a risk to themselves or
others. To date however, those bills have been tabled in the Public Safety
committee and are not moving forward. Please join me in continuing to push for
action!
State Contracts Passed, Pension Updates Remain
On Monday the contracts for 30,000 state workers were finally ratified. The
Governor signed them immediately. These contracts were negotiated and approved
last year but held up by partisan delays. I heard from many neighbors who are
state employees who were increasingly apprehensive about the delays and the
threat they posed to their family’s financial stability. As a state, we owe
gratitude to the Minnesotans who plow our roads, keep our water clean, monitor
health emergencies, and respond when our state is in crisis.
Also on Monday, the Senate passed legislation to strengthen the long-term
viability of state pension plans. The bill asks all involved in public
pensions-employers, employees, and retirees-to contribute to this solution. I
am hopeful that soon the House will follow suit. We have a responsibility to
both taxpayers and retirees to fulfill our promise of a secure retirement.
Attacks on Union Rights
Last week, a bill that would bring Wisconsin-style anti-union changes (HF 3723)
was amended and passed out of the Government Operations Committee on a
roll-call vote of 10-8. The bill cripples the ability of public sector unions
to collect dues for independent expenditures and eliminates their ability to
accept voluntary paycheck deductions that contribute to a union’s political
advocacy work. Workers in Minnesota have a right to organize for higher wages,
safer working conditions, and a path to retire with dignity. I will be doing
everything I can to oppose this bill.
‘Restore The Vote’ Tabled in Committee
For another year, the House Public Safety Committee has delayed HF 951, which
would restore the right to vote for people convicted of a felony once they have
been released from custody. MPR story available here: Wait will go on for
felons seeking return of voting rights
Your 2018 Home Value Assessment
Many home owners received home value notices from the City Assessor this week.
Some of us surely raised eyebrows at the amounts our home values have gone up
and our market value homestead exclusion have gone down. The lion’s share of
the cause for these changes is the hot housing market we find ourselves in
currently, and I want to make sure you know about the property tax process and
your tools to appeal the assessment you received from the city. Keep in mind
that your property valuation and your property taxes are not the same thing,
and that next year’s property taxes will not be set until late this year. The
following is information provided from the City Assessor’s Office:
Value notices were mailed to property owners the week of March 19, 2018. This
important notice provides 2018 property value and classification information.
Note: The 2018 property value and classification are used to calculate property
taxes payable in 2019.
The value notice provides information on appeal options, definitions of values
and exclusions, and the property tax notice schedule.
Informational Links:
• An Overview of the Property Tax System (Minnesota House Research Department
presentation)
• The Homestead Market Value Exclusion (Minnesota House Research Department)
• Local Board of Appeal and Equalization information (Submission deadline is
Friday, April 13, 2018, at 4:30 p.m.)
• 2018 Assessment Year Sale Map (online map)
I welcome your questions and feedback, and encourage you to reply to this email
or contact me at 651-296-0173.
Sincerely,
Jim Davnie
Cooper resident
This is the last week of the legislative session before next week’s
Easter/Passover break. The second deadline for legislative committees to pass
bills is today (Thursday). Here’s an update on what’s been going on:
March for Our Lives
A growing number of Minnesotans are demanding we do something about gun
violence this year. That was on full display Saturday, as 20,000 students and
others marched from Harriet Island to the Capitol to protest and demand policy
change. More voices, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk and Greater
Minnesota editorial boards like the Mankato Free Press are urging the
Republican majority to take action. Two common sense solutions we should be
acting on are universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders to
keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people who pose a risk to themselves or
others. To date however, those bills have been tabled in the Public Safety
committee and are not moving forward. Please join me in continuing to push for
action!
State Contracts Passed, Pension Updates Remain
On Monday the contracts for 30,000 state workers were finally ratified. The
Governor signed them immediately. These contracts were negotiated and approved
last year but held up by partisan delays. I heard from many neighbors who are
state employees who were increasingly apprehensive about the delays and the
threat they posed to their family’s financial stability. As a state, we owe
gratitude to the Minnesotans who plow our roads, keep our water clean, monitor
health emergencies, and respond when our state is in crisis.
Also on Monday, the Senate passed legislation to strengthen the long-term
viability of state pension plans. The bill asks all involved in public
pensions-employers, employees, and retirees-to contribute to this solution. I
am hopeful that soon the House will follow suit. We have a responsibility to
both taxpayers and retirees to fulfill our promise of a secure retirement.
Attacks on Union Rights
Last week, a bill that would bring Wisconsin-style anti-union changes (HF 3723)
was amended and passed out of the Government Operations Committee on a
roll-call vote of 10-8. The bill cripples the ability of public sector unions
to collect dues for independent expenditures and eliminates their ability to
accept voluntary paycheck deductions that contribute to a union’s political
advocacy work. Workers in Minnesota have a right to organize for higher wages,
safer working conditions, and a path to retire with dignity. I will be doing
everything I can to oppose this bill.
‘Restore The Vote’ Tabled in Committee
For another year, the House Public Safety Committee has delayed HF 951, which
would restore the right to vote for people convicted of a felony once they have
been released from custody. MPR story available here: Wait will go on for
felons seeking return of voting rights
Your 2018 Home Value Assessment
Many home owners received home value notices from the City Assessor this week.
Some of us surely raised eyebrows at the amounts our home values have gone up
and our market value homestead exclusion have gone down. The lion’s share of
the cause for these changes is the hot housing market we find ourselves in
currently, and I want to make sure you know about the property tax process and
your tools to appeal the assessment you received from the city. Keep in mind
that your property valuation and your property taxes are not the same thing,
and that next year’s property taxes will not be set until late this year. The
following is information provided from the City Assessor’s Office:
Value notices were mailed to property owners the week of March 19, 2018. This
important notice provides 2018 property value and classification information.
Note: The 2018 property value and classification are used to calculate property
taxes payable in 2019.
The value notice provides information on appeal options, definitions of values
and exclusions, and the property tax notice schedule.
Informational Links:
• An Overview of the Property Tax System (Minnesota House Research Department
presentation)
• The Homestead Market Value Exclusion (Minnesota House Research Department)
• Local Board of Appeal and Equalization information (Submission deadline is
Friday, April 13, 2018, at 4:30 p.m.)
• 2018 Assessment Year Sale Map (online map)
I welcome your questions and feedback, and encourage you to reply to this email
or contact me at 651-296-0173.
Sincerely,
Jim Davnie
Cooper resident
