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APR-CM-1??*?. 17:13 FPOiM 94730510 P.Ol <br />±A <br />GV4N OLSON <br />Assi5um Mlorrity Leader <br />Senator. District 34 <br />119 Sute Office Building <br />100 CorstitutioTi Avenue <br />St P»yLMN53I55-n06 <br />(612) :96-l2S2 <br />Honsc. <br />6T30 County Rond 110 West <br />Mound. Minoesota 53364 <br />(6)2)4720306 <br />April 4, 1996 <br />c i n T <br />Senate <br />State of Minnesota <br />TO: <br />FROM: <br />RE: <br />Cities in District 34 <br />Gen Olson <br />Legislative Session is over <br />The freeze that you feared didn't happen. Nothing of much significance did. <br />The property' tax freeze favored by citizens but opposed by local government officials didn’t <br />become law. <br />The 1995-96 Legislative Session was over when the Senate adjourned "sine die" Wednes'^y, <br />and legislators went their separate ways for recevery and reflection. While many will prepare <br />for the election in November, a significar.i number are choosing different courses for t' eir lives. <br />Others may have that choice made for them November Jth. This is to say that the 199 / <br />Legislature w'ill clearly be a different legislature. <br />The 1997 Legislature will face many challenges. V-’hile efforts were made to address some of <br />them this year, the pall cast by assorted ethical violations contributed to an unwillingness by the <br />DFL leadership to risk aggravatmg anyone with major policy changes. <br />The citizen resistance to tax increases and cries for property tax reform/relief are reiniorcing the <br />need for major tax and spending policy changes. People are not willing tC have an increasing <br />percentage of their income taken by government at any level. <br />A scientific poll of registered voters revealc'i a 79 ‘l'o level of support for the property tax freeze <br />and 77% belie\ing local government could manage for a year without prop^ tax increases. I <br />share that information because it conveys a strong message of need for deeding with rapidly <br />increasing property ta,\es. I. personally, bclic^■e we need major change in how local serv'ices are <br />funded. This issue must be tackled in the 1997 Legislative Session. <br />The challenges ahead are great if've are to mee'. gro’ving demwds effectively with the same or <br />fewer resources throughout the aieas ol go\'errmcr.t vervice. <br />I look forward to attending a council meeting in the weeks ahead. Please call me (296-1282) if <br />you prefer that I attend a particular meeting. If I don't hear from you, I'll call to arrange an <br />appropriate time. <br />!it€yci£d <br />JJ% <br />Cavnamer Hhar <br />COMMITTEES • Educijon • Envircnmcnt Jk Narural Rc.^curcfs • Rules and Adimm^s*acion • Taw <br />and Tax Laws <br />SERVING: Delano. Fra.iKlin Townhhtp. GrccnficUI. Hanover. Indcpcnde.nce. Long LaXo. Lcretto. Maple Plain* <br />Medina. NiinoetnsLa. Mound. Orooo. Plynaoufh. Roclc/ord. Rockford Township. $t. Booifacius, Spring Park <br />TOTAL P.01