You should look closely at your proposed 2014 property taxes. The county and “other levies” of School District 166 show very modest proposed increases. Lutsen township and voterapproved school district levies even show a modest decrease. Each of these entities also list meeting information for people to discuss their proposed taxes. Congratulations to these groups for responsible budgeting and public awareness.
Now look at Special Taxing District line item and you will see that most of your proposed overall tax increase for 2014 comes from that one item.
In my case it represents 75 percent of my proposed increase. In case you were unaware of what Special Taxing District means, it is a cover term for the North Shore Hospital tax levy because that is principally what it is. Also, note that there is no public meeting listed.
How can they can propose such a huge increase? The answer is that they can increase their levy any amount they want year to year as there is no levy increase cap. Several years ago, the state legislature removed that 3 percent cap.
So, instead of responsible budgeting and planning, the hospital can make up shortfalls by simply increasing their levy as much as they care to. It is my understanding that they aren’t required to hold public meetings because they are not accountable under the Truth in Taxation Law. So they don’t have to hold public hearings or be included in county notices of tax hearings.
Each year the hospital proposes a significant increase in their tax levy such as the one for 2014 but has eventually reduced it after a vocal negative response from the public. Please make your voices heard again so we all don’t see the proposed increase become the actual increase.
No organization should be allowed to levy a tax increase with no oversight or limit and not even be accountable to property owners through Truth in Taxation laws. If you agree, let your legislators know how you feel. Over the years, I have paid property taxes in six states including eight different counties, both rural and urban, and I have never seen anything that even remotely resembles what goes on here.
Jim Peterson
Lutsen
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