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*November 2, 2023*






Dear Friends and Neighbors,

*It?s PROPERTY TAXES and ELECTIONS Season.?*

*_LOCAL TAX LEVIES_*?

It?s property tax season and many local units of government are setting levies and new tax rates for the upcoming year. As these entities begin the process of determining your property tax rate for 2024, I wanted to take a moment to remind you that these decisions are made at the local government level?usually by the city, county, and school district.?

Here at the state legislature, while we don?t directly raise or lower property tax rates, we do what we can to help lessen your tax burden by investing in local government aid (LGA), county program aid (CPA), and by increasing eligibility for property tax refund programs. This past year, the legislature modified the Local Aid formula and increased it by 14 percent per year. We also increased County Aid by 30 percent per year. Both increases in funding are meant to help offset the costs of providing basic government services for cities and counties and help keep property taxes lower.

We also created a one-time boost for all three state-run property tax refund programs?the homestead credit (20%), renter?s credit (20 percent), and additional property tax credit.

Locally, Lakeville?s is proposing a 10.84% increase in property taxes for 2024. This exceeds the growth in the tax base, but to be fair, Lakeville also doesn?t receive Local Government Aid (LGA) as mentioned above. You can read more about the proposal on page 31 here: [link removed]

According to Dakota County, it is expected that a home with a median value of $372,000 will see approximately a 1.5% increase in their property tax bill in 2024. You can read more about that here: [link removed].

There are upcoming Truth in Taxes hearings for local cities and counties. I encourage you to check local listings for additional information and to attend to share your thoughts and direct questions to the city, schools, and counties.

*_TIME TO VOTE!_*?

On November 7th, Lakeville Area School District residents will vote on whether to approve?*funding to staff and operate Highview Elementary*, the new elementary school opening in the Fall of 2024. The request also includes a *second question *to raise tax revenue to recruit and retain teachers, and to?expand K-12 mental health, behavioral, and academic support services.??

Earlier this year, the legislature used part of your historic budget surplus to provide a sizable increase for school funding across Minnesota. Unfortunately, despite the infusion of cash, the Democrat majority tied the funding to expensive mandates like a new free lunch and breakfast program that will cost Lakeville schools $750,000 annually!? Because of this, many school districts have been left struggling to meet requirements related to discipline, curriculum, and the costs associated with new unfunded mandates.?

House Republicans proposed an alternative plan that would have provided flexible funding to school districts without strings attached and could have helped reduce the need for so many districts to ask property owners to raise their taxes.

Recently, there was a *letter to the editor* about the school district levy by longtime resident Bob Erickson that is worth a short read.? You can read that here: [link removed].?

Early voting is open now and lasts all the way through election day, November 7th.? Be sure to read about the proposal and determine how you?d like to vote.?

*Staying in Touch*

While the session is over, the work doesn?t stop. Contact our office if we can be of any assistance to you or your family.?

Please share this Koznick Connection with friends and neighbors that would be interested. They can*?**sign up for future Koznick Connections here.* [ [link removed] ]*?*

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Recently I was able to tour the Amazon distribution center and have been visiting with many constituents and friends like Mike and Don, who live in a group home.? They helped me advocate for and pass the Metro Mobility bill that now provides this critical service to our area.? Their good humor is infectious and it is always fun to visit with them, even if they are Steelers and Bears fans!

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Happily fighting for you; now *make a plan to vote!*?

Jon Koznick
State Representative











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@RepJonKoznick [ [link removed] ]





281 State Office Building?
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-6926
[email protected]







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