Democrats’ efforts to beef up state aid to cities and counties were not successful as the Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate passed a tax cut bill Tuesday. Minority Leader Tom Bakk argued it would *not* be a tax increase. “Putting money into the local government aid and county program aid… to provide direct property tax relief. That’s what this amendment does,” Bakk said. Lino Lakes Republican Roger Chamberlain responded, “We got a lot of good things in the bill for cities and counties across the board, so vote red please.”
Governor Tim Walz and House Democrats are pushing for increases in state aid to cities and counties, meaning the issue will likely be part of end-of-session budget negotiations which begin soon.