Laserfiche WebLink
Q STAR TRIBUNE ~J <br />HXCLUSIVE <br />`w@'1C' <br />By RICHARD MERYnEW <br />or more than <br />has Hstenedto <br />apolis taxpaye <br />one cry. <br />Until Deqen <br />ly women teazed up as tt <br />packed City Hall heazijtg <br />bills have pushed them'~to <br />"I've neyer seen thafity <br />tion," said Becker, an elect <br />Board of Estimate and Tai <br />for real people." <br />Homeowners across 1 <br />CITY DREAMS <br />BUCKLE UNDER <br />TAXES' WEIGI~T <br />• Fallinghomevaluesand <br />rising propertytaxes unnerue <br />Minneapolis homeowners. <br />long prided itself on bavil <br />will to be the region's apor <br />convention hub. <br />Many homeowners are 1 <br />percentage increases in 20 <br />of more hikes to come.Unc <br />frustration is replacing th <br />willing to pay for the extra; <br />Some people talk od me <br />Others aze struggling t6 bet <br />anger to city leaders they of <br />their concerns. <br />"Is there something gl <br />Becker, anout-of--work hor <br />herself at the December he <br />since taking office in <br />been one of the most i <br />"State cuts and per <br />made it hazd for us to <br />Taxes 5ontlxtues on A9 - <br />"We're at a breaking poir-t:' <br />!~ <br />f eeling trapped' <br />yeazs, Cazol Becker <br />e protests of Minne- <br />She had never seen <br />r, when three elder- <br />took turns telling a <br />t their property tax <br />nger and frustra- <br />mber ofthe cit}fs <br />"This is real pain <br />Twin Cities metro <br />azea aze feeling the <br />weight of a tax bur- <br />den that's falling <br />more and more on <br />their shoulders. But <br />perhaps nowhere is <br />the stress greater, <br />and the stakes high- <br />er,than in Minneap- <br />olis, the state's most <br />populous city, its <br />17usiness center and <br />the place that has <br />the means and the <br />s, entertainment and <br />sing double-digit tax <br />- and the prospect <br />r that pressure, deep <br />pride of a city long <br />rg out, if they can. <br />communicate their <br />i oerceive as deaf to <br />on here?" asked <br />mer who testified <br />;. "I'd say yes.' It's <br />nger to tough budgets <br />admits this yeaz has <br />for the city. <br />sues have especially <br />:e the budget without <br />"Real pain for real people:' <br />1CPP WHEBI9R •jeffwheelei@staztribwe.mm <br />Steve and Rachel Maves bought their south Minneapolis house eight yeazs ago for 5180,000. <br />Its value first went up but has sincefallento 5165,OOO.Theu propertytaxes continue to rise. <br />