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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2006
Contact: David Strom
Ph: (651) 294-3590 ext 201
Saint Paul Descending
Livability takes a hit with tax increase proposal
St Paul—There’s a reason some have dubbed the leaders of Minneapolis and St Paul the “Brokeback Mayors.”
In some respects, they are just too much alike for the good of the region.
Mayor Chris Coleman’s announcement of his proposal to raise property taxes is setting St Paulalong a path to become more like Minneapolisby mirroring some of its worst characteristics, argues the Taxpayers League of Minnesota.
“Raising property taxes by almost 9% this year is ridiculous,” said David Strom, President of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota. “St Paul has edged out Minneapolis in recent years as a more livable city, but Mayor Coleman seems bound and determined to reverse the gains they have made by emulating the worst of Minneapolis’ governance trends,” said Strom.
St Paul has been a tremendous success story since the election of Norm Coleman as Mayor. Under Coleman and Randy Kelley, St Paulhas solidified itself as one of the few cities in America with a vibrant middle-class. Its reluctance to raise taxes has been the backbone of that success story.
“Mayor Coleman’s decision to raise taxes so significantly threatens to putSt Paul on the negative path so many ofAmerica’s cities have gone down: driving out the middle class, leaving only the wealthiest and the poorest to populate the city. I fear for the future of St Paul,” said Strom.
St Paul’s property tax increases come on the heels of significant County and School District tax increases. Together, these increases will cost taxpayers hundreds of dollars a year per household.
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