Documenters report: Minneapolis considers asking tax-exempt property owners to help fill funding gaps

MinnPost’s Twin Cities Documenters program trains and pays community members to take notes at local government meetings. Below are Documenter Glen Johnson’s summary and observations from the July 8 Minneapolis Board of Estimate & Taxation meeting. You can find Glen’s full notes here, which include links to the agenda and video recording.

Summary: 

• The board approved a resolution requesting that the Charter Commission and City Council consider a city charter amendment to allow alternates to two BET members to achieve quorum when they are absent.
  • The BET has experienced issues with achieving their quorum of at least four members present for monthly meetings. 
  • The proposed charter change would allow the vice president of the city council and the vice chair of the budget committee to assume the BET seats of the president of the city council and chair of the budget committee, respectively, when they are unable to attend.

• The board approved a resolution recommending that the city pursue a program for non-taxed entities to make voluntary payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT).
  • The city is limited by statute in the collection of revenue for city services. The BET is proposing a voluntary program, which large nonprofits like churches, schools and hospitals could opt to join.
  • The revenue collected would not be predictable, so the BET advised the payments collected be put into a special account outside the general budget “designated for the acquisition, maintenance, and general improvement of publicly owned assets including parks, parklettes, plazas, squares, housing, commercial real estate, or other public spaces,” according to the resolution.

Observations and follow-up questions: 

Accessibility: Did you face any challenges that made it harder to document the meeting or that may have made it difficult for others to attend?

• Links to items 6 and 7 were not included in the agenda.

Scene: About how many members of the public attended the meeting? If watching virtually, what was the livestream count (if applicable)? Was anyone protesting outside? 

•  59 views the day after the meeting

Notable: Do you have any follow up questions or other observations to share?

•  City charter changes have several mechanisms to get onto the ballot. It’s unclear which path the proposal to allow alternates will take.

How to get involved:

When is the next meeting for this board/committee? Any upcoming public hearings? Online surveys? 

•  The BET next meets on July 22 at 4 p.m.

Related: Minneapolis explores progressive income tax, other new revenue sources

More context:

Read Documenter Glen Johnson’s full notes here, which include links to the agenda and video recording. View our full database of notes here.

Want to become a Documenter? You can start by making an account here.

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