Homeowners in Moorhead will see their total property tax bills rise more than 10 percent next year, a top Democratic state lawmaker said Wednesday in Moorhead.
House Minority Leader Matt Entenza of St. Paul held a news conference at the Moorhead Airport - as well as in St. Paul and four other cities - to highlight projected tax increases in selected cities.
In Moorhead, the largest increase is in school taxes. The School Board has approved a preliminary levy 35 percent higher than this year's, which translates into an increase of about $79 on a $100,000 home.
The city plans to collect 5 percent more in property taxes than it did this year, an increase of $8 on a $100,000 house.
Clay County's initial 2006 levy is 7 percent higher than this year's, meaning property taxes on a $100,000 home would jump $16.
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The figures turned up the heat on a standing debate between Pawlenty and Democrats.
Entenza said Democrats - who pushed last session to raise income taxes on the state's highest-income earners - wanted to boost school funding without raising property taxes.
"The governor who claims not to raise taxes is raising taxes again," Entenza said.
A sharp retort came from Pawlenty's office.
"Matt Entenza pointing fingers at others for higher taxes is like oil companies looking for someone to blame for higher gas prices,'' said spokesman Brian McClung.
McClung said Democrats should have supported proposals backed by the governor to hold down property taxes, including a state-mandated property tax freeze, levy limits or taxpayer-triggered referendums on increases.
