Star Tribune
Minneapolis looks at new taxes amid plummeting downtown values
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is considering new taxes as downtown property values plummet and city costs go up.
Frey said he will “bring experts together” to look at “new revenue streams” in the coming months to ease the burden shifting onto residential property.
Most of the changes being floated would require approval from state lawmakers.
Property taxes are the largest revenue source for the city’s general fund. But with high vacancy rates and office towers selling at deep discounts – one pair of downtown towers recently sold for 9% of the price paid five years ago – in this new post-pandemic work paradigm, they are worth less, so their owners will pay less in taxes.
In August, Frey proposed an 8.1% increase in the amount raised from property taxes next year to fund his proposed $1.9 billion annual budget. That’s the biggest tax increase since the mid-2000s, fueled by inflation, higher city employee salaries, millions required for police reforms, and the loss of federal pandemic funds.
The city had a projected deficit of nearly $22 million before Frey made adjustments to balance his budget proposal. During the Sept. 18 meeting of the Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation, Frey said the additional revenue could offset shortfalls projected in 2025 and beyond.
Council President Elliott Payne said at the meeting he will “be in partnership” with Frey when it comes to raising new revenue, saying the council has a “huge appetite” to look closely at the budget and identify opportunities to keep the property tax burden as low as possible.
Steve Brandt, president of the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET), said he thought the mayor’s proposed tax increase was too high but would support it if Frey took a serious look at diversified revenue sources so the city doesn’t depend on property tax revenue “ad infinitum.”
“It will still be pretty low, and it’ll set before the sky gets completely dark,” she said. “That’s the trade-off here. This weekend is when it’s going to be its brightest, but it’s also not in the sky when it’s dark,” Brummel said.
If you look to the west, you can probably see Venus, the really bright planet. Then scan to the right of Venus. If you have a pair of binoculars, just point them on Venus, and then slowly scan toward the right to see the comet, she said.
This comet is getting a lot of notice because it’s a rare comet that’s bright enough to see even through the light pollution of cities. A spot with a clear view of the western horizon, without trees or buildings in the way is good.
But the farther away from the city you get, with less light pollution, the better it will look.
Star Tribune
Minnesota Supreme Court rules that duty to retreat differs when someone else is under attack
The stepbrother told Gutierrez “calm down bro.” At which point, Gutierrez said, “I’m not your bro, bro,” and lunged at him. The stepbrother cracked him upside the head with his pool cue, swinging it “like a baseball bat.” Gutierrez stumbled, then continued attacking him. The stepbrother tripped over a pile of trash outside the garage and Gutierrez, a much larger man, climbed on top of him. He began strangling the stepbrother, smothering his face and punching him. Valdez testified that he knew Gutierrez was unarmed. His stepbrother was screaming in fear and begging Valdez, “Shoot him!”
Valdez came into the alley of the garage and shot Gutierrez once in the side.
Gutierrez screamed that he had been shot. Valdez told his brother to call 911 and Valdez called his mother. By the time paramedics arrived, Gutierrez had no pulse. A helicopter arrived to transport him but the flight crew declared him dead.
Valdez was charged in Renville County with second-degree intentional murder and second-degree unintentional murder. A jury found him guilty of unintentional murder.
At trial, the jury was instructed that Valdez, who was using a “defense-of-others” claim, had a “duty to retreat or avoid the danger if reasonably possible” before shooting Gutierrez.
Valdez appealed the verdict. The Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed the conviction and sent it back for a new trial. The State of Minnesota appealed that decision and it was sent to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
According to program details given to the City Council in September, 27% of St. Paul children live under the federal poverty level, $31,200 for a family of four. More than half live under 185% of the federal poverty level — a threshold used by the state to indicate the need for early learning scholarships. The committee formulating the St. Paul plan recommends covering the full cost of care for children under 185% of the poverty level.
In the program’s first year, the subsidies would likely help cover child care for 154 infants from some of St. Paul’s neediest families, according to estimates. By the 10th year, 650 infants, 1,169 toddlers and 1,096 preschoolers would be receiving child care subsidies, organizers said.
Noecker said 4,000-7,000 children up to age 5 will have been helped over the 10 years.
Fifty other cities across the country have voter-approved children’s funds, Noecker said, “And they’ve seen a lot of success.”
According to “Vote Yes” organizers, the average St. Paul home would pay an additional $16 in the first year, less than $2 extra per month. After the 10th year, when the program is fully funded, the average home would pay an extra $160 each year.
Records filed with Ramsey County show that, as of Sept. 10, the Vote Yes campaign has raised $65,380 and spent $26,880.20. The campaign had an account balance of $38,639.80.
