Chuck,
Yes, I recommended that Ramsey County should suspend or delay the first half of
the property taxes owed. The Federal government has moved tax day back from
April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020 and we could do the same with property taxes.
Homeowners and businesses will be hit very hard and the financial burden caused
by the COVID virus will be great in the next few months. With the state
surplus at $1.6 Billion this year, may be our city delegation (Minnesota
Legislature) could on a state level use this $1.6 Billion in extra money for
property tax relief on a one time basis statewide. This would help St. Paul.
The state's rainy-day fund is full and for the State of Minnesota to just keep
this money is wrong, as it needs to go back to the citizens, in this time of
need.
Don't worry Chuck the Federal government will be supplying tons of money, as
passed by our US Congress and the President's National Emergency Declaration.
In addition The President has also declared Natural Disaster declarations for
the whole USA. President Trump on Friday declared New York State a major
disaster area, as coronavirus cases skyrocket there. Ramsey County and the
City of St. Paul need to also step up as well!
John Gaylord makes a very good point! All employees need to be paid, not just
one group. Several private employers are doing just that, not it is
governments turn. I know of a property owner in St. Paul who has suspended the
rent payments of his renters who need it. Working together, helping all
citizens is the right thing to do. Do we just kick them out into the street?
No!
I know for some elected leaders that it is going to be really hard to just give
away government collected money once collected, but to be honest, we need to do
just that! We see on the National stage both Democrats and Republicans working
together in an unprecedented way, working together to help our Nation as a
whole and it is time that the State of Minnesota and our local elected leaders
do the same. Mayor Melvin Carter's plan to just lay off city employees when
the money is in the bank and in the budget, is totally nuts! It is wrong for
the City of St. Paul to make a profit off these employees in this time of need.
If this COVID virus hits, as the CDC models of infection are correct, then we
will see devastation greater than what our parents saw in the Great Depression,
with people losing their homes and farms, as there will be no jobs! Our local
elected leaders need to pry their cold fingers off the tax money and do the
right thing, NOW!
We are all in this together, and together we are strong!
John Krenik
St. Paul, MN