Many senior citizens would see any future increases in their property tax capped at the rate of inflation under a plan DFL-endorsed candidate for governor Margaret Anderson Kelliher announced today at a news conference in Duluth.
"For senior citizens on fixed incomes trying to pay for their groceries and prescription medicine, steep property tax increases have limited their ability to stay in their homes, live independently, or afford the retirement they deserve," said Kelliher, who is in a three-way primary race with Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza.
Under Kelliher's plan, property taxes could not increase more than the rate of inflation for a single Minnesotan 65 or older with an income of less than $100,000 or for married seniors with an income less than $150,000.
Growing property taxes are making it difficult for many seniors to remain in their homes and neighborhoods, Kelliher said after the news conference, noting that seniors who stay in their homes do better health-wise than those who leave.
Restricting how much property taxes could increase could impact how much money local governments can raise. Kelliher said she would work with local governments to restore stability and a working relationship with the state to pay for needed services.
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Duluth Mayor Don Ness, who supports Kelliher and was at the news conference, said the underpinnings of state-local government were broken under Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who deferred millions in aid to local government payments over the past several years.
"If you have a strong partnership you will be able to do a better job," Ness said.
In addition to her tax plan, Kelliher said she would:
Appoint a cabinet-level advisor for aging, elderly, vulnerable, and disabled Minnesotans
Protect seniors from funding cuts to health care and nursing homes
Protect the financial security of senior citizens
"It's a wonderful idea, the whole works," Duluth resident Mary Gustafson said after Kelliher's talk.
Not a property owner, Gustafson was most interested in health-care issues.
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Also lending support to Kelliher by appearing at today's news conference at the Rainbow Center were former Vice President Walter Mondale, former Secretary of State Joan Growe, and state Reps. Mary Murphy and Roger Reinert. Several of them talked about the importance of voting in the state's first August primary.
"This is a critical election," Growe said. "This primary on Aug. 10 will determine the direction the state will take in the next four, eight years."
