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| Date: | February 17, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Libbie Krueger | | Contact Phone: | 651.296.1388 | | Contact Email: | elizabeth.krueger@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| Sen. Newman, Ortman Hold Tax Meeting in Hutchinson Senators Discuss Tax Burden with Local Business Leaders |
(St. Paul) - Senator Scott Newman (R – Hutchinson) discussed the impact of recent tax changes with Hutchinson’s local business leaders on Thursday evening.
Newman, elected to the Senate in 2010, invited the Minnesota Senate Tax Committee Chair Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) to join in the conversion and offer her expertise on the topic.
“Local business leaders have concerns about the tax laws that affect their businesses and our community at large,” Newman said. “I brought Senator Ortman with me tonight so she could share her insights on property tax policies and hear first-hand accounts of how businesses in Hutchinson are affected by our policy choices in St. Paul and at the local level.”
The town-hall style meeting, organized by the Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce, afforded local Hutchinson business owners the opportunity to share their concerns with the senators and have their questions about new tax laws answered.
“There are important principles to consider regarding property tax reform. We believe that property tax relief should be paid directly to property taxpayers and not to cities and counties. This will strengthen the relationship between local voters and local leaders by improving transparency,” said Ortman. “Taxpayers should know who is making which taxing decision, exactly why they are paying the tax, and exactly how their money is being spent.”
“Tax laws are complicated,” said Newman, “and I understand why local business leaders have questions. I was happy to have Senator Ortman join me in a conversation with our community’s job creators to discuss what we need to do to get more Minnesotans back to work.”
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