MINNEAPOLIS -- "I encourage readers to look beyond the tone of the debate and look at the intent of the language of Measure 2." Those are the words of Blake Crosby in a letter published in Agweek on April 16. Yes. I fully agree with Crosby's statement.
The overriding intent of Measure 2 is to eliminate property taxes. No place in the Measure 2 proposal does it eliminate any other tax. Nor does it negate the power of taxation by the government. It does not propose to eliminate Article 10, Section 2 of the state constitution, which states: "The power of taxation shall never be surrendered or suspended by any grant or contract to which the state or any county or other municipal corporation shall be a party."
In other words, Measure 2 will give the option to have local government taxation, other than property tax, if people choose to do so.
The local government control argument does not stand up just because the property tax is eliminated. Why can't people understand that any other tax will be better than the property tax system we have now? If Measure 2 is passed, it will give us better taxing options, if needed, for our local governments and the right to own our homes instead being a tenant in our own homes.
Editor's Note: Curiskis is from Minneapolis.
