Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued for Twin Cities metro area

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(AP) - Minnesota towns and counties hit by this month's
flooding will collect their local government aid payments almost
four months early.

      Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday ordered the payments be sent out
early. They are usually sent twice a year, in July and December.

      The payments amount to about $25 million. The checks will be
sent out to affected areas in Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted,
Steele, Wabasha and Winona counties.

      Flood damage has been estimated at $67 million for private
property and infrastructure, including 1,500 damaged homes.
      
 Some people and businesses hit by flooding
will also get a little relief when it comes to
paying required state taxes that have accumulated since the flood,
the Minnesota Department of Revenue said. 

      The deadline to pay those state taxes - such as individual
income taxes or corporate taxes - is Nov. 1. But Revenue
Commissioner Ward Einess said there will be no penalties or
interest on taxes that would've been owed between Aug. 19 and Oct. 31. 

In addition, he said, those affected will have until the end of
the calendar year to pay the taxes.

      Taxpayers with questions about the deadline extension can call
the Revenue Flood Hotline at (800) 657-3606.

      The forgiveness does not apply to local property taxes. But
Einess added there's a disaster credit in place for property taxes
that will be due in 2008, and the Legislature may seek other
remedies if a special session is held this fall.

      Einess said flood victims expecting a property or renter's tax
refund in the next few weeks should let the Revenue Department know
where to send the refund if they've been displaced by the flooding.

Gallery

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SE Minnesota banks deal with unique flood problems

Pawlenty lays out what he wants in a special session

Who'll pay for flood damage in SE Minnesota?

Politics and Government News

State government is speeding up the payments it makes to towns and counties hit by this month's flooding, at the same time it eases the deadlines for filing some state taxes.

State speeds up payments to flood-damaged towns and counties

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