FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2016
Contact: Yvonne Simon Kent Thiesse
Minnesota Farm Bureau Farm Management Analyst
(507) 995-1652 (507) 381-7960
yvonne.simon@fbmn.org kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com
RISING RURAL PROPERTY TAXES HIGHLIGHTS ANNUAL
LEGISLATIVE FORUM ON DECEMBER 8
Rural residents and local elected officials are invited to attend the 34th Annual Rural Legislative Forum on Thursday, December 8th. This year’s theme is: “Rapidly Rising Property Taxes…Challenging Rural Minnesota”.
The legislative forum will provide an overview of the property tax system in Minnesota, including how property taxes are calculated and the use of property tax funds. Participants will also hear about the impact of school bond issues on agriculture property taxes. Eric Willette, Property Tax Research Director for the Minnesota Department of Revenue, will be the keynote presenter for this thought provoking forum, which will also touch on the ag property tax legislation that was passed during the 2016 State Legislative session, but was not enacted into law. The forum response panel will include Kevin Paap, Minnesota Farm Bureau President; Bob Meyer, Blue Earth County Administrator; Tom Warmka, Faribault County Commissioner; and Kirk Schneidawind, Executive Director of the Minnesota School Boards Association.
The Forum will be held on Thursday, December 8th from 3:30–8:00 p.m. at South Central College, 1920 Lee Boulevard, North Mankato. Registration cost is $15 per person, which includes a pork chop dinner and all printed materials. Advance registration is requested prior to December 8. For registration, contact the Blue Earth County UM Extension Office by phone at (507) 304-4325, or by e-mail at: mnext-blueearth@umn.edu.
Sponsors for the dinner include: Community Bank in Amboy, Mankato and Vernon Center; First National Bank Minnesota in Mankato and St. Peter; Nicollet County Bank in St. Peter; MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal and Mankato; Bremer Bank in Mankato; United Prairie Bank in Mankato; MN Soybean Research and Promotion Council; MN Corn Grower’s Assn.; MN Pork Producers Assn.; AgStar Financial Services; DuPont Pioneer; and MN Farmers Union. Other program sponsors include MN Farm Bureau, MN Ari-Women, Region 9 Development Commission, South Central College, and University on Minnesota Extension.