County opposes reverse referendum

By MaryHelen Swanson
Ice storm not withstanding, the Chisago County commissioners met last Wednesday and vigorously opposed passage of legislation that would institute a reverse referendum on tax levy increases.
Included in Governor Tim Pawlentyís budget proposal is creation of a law that would allow citizens to call for a referendum vote if they were not happy with the levy increase adopted by a county board.
Association of Minnesota Counties president Gene Short believes this would undermine local representative government.
According to DeAnna Lilienthal, interim county coordinator, it is expected that all 87 Minnesota counties will be opposing this law.
As proposed by the Governor, after the final adoption of the county levy, a number of petitioners equal to 5 percent of the number of voters in the last general election would have 21 days to petition for a referendum and a special election would be held on the fourth Tuesday in January.
The ballot would be marked either to approve the levy increase or revert to the previous yearís levy.
Short believes such a provision could have devastating impacts on counties.
As noted by Lilienthal, the election, which is costly, would be unbudgeted.
Even if the election was budgeted by a board in anticipation of the citizen petition, the budgeted election cost would be lost if the vote was to return to the previous yearís levy.
In a memo to all county commissioners, Short said even more detrimental is the fact that special levies for debt bonding could be eliminated in the Governorís proposal as debt service would be subject to the reverse referendum.
Short said, ìreverse referendums simply strips away a crucial responsibility of a representative form of government.î
The commissioners unanimously adopted a lengthy resolution opposing passage of this legislation. In the resolution is a reminder that citizens have many opportunities to influence the property tax levy at public meetings as well as at the annual Truth in Taxation meeting.
It also says citizens have an ìenhanced role through electing local officials to become knowledgeable and to make informed decisions on behalf of their constituents.î
It says that the legislation would break with long-standing historical policy allowing for local control and local accountability.
The resolution also makes note of the fact that other than raising fees, county governments in Minnesota have only the property tax levy available to meet the inflationary and population-driven demands of the mandated and essential services delivered to citizens.
There is also a reminder that the tax levy increase is not the only factor in increased taxes. Others include changes in classifications, market value, programmatic aids and property tax relief determined by the state legislature.
The adopted resolution is being forwarded to the Governor, the Senate majority leader, Speaker of the House, chairman of the Senate Committee on Taxes, chairman of the House Tax Committee and local state legislators.
In other business, the board:
ï Approved a tax abatement for the Rush City Airport to assist in the project of construction of a new taxiway in an amount not to exceed $22,500 for up to 10 years. The assistance would be in the form of a tax abatement of the new and existing hangers located at airport. Commissioner Ben Montzka opposed the motion, Commissioner Bob Gustafson was absent.
ï Unanimously (4-0) moved to purchase just over 20 acres from Little Sweden, Inc. (the Clayton Anderson family) in North Branch for $5,000 per acre, upon written purchase agreement signed by the board chairman and clerk of board and approved by the county attorney. The Anderson family offered this land at below market value to be used for the construction of a new nursing home.

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