Ground Level®: Amplifying Community Voices

Your story is powerful. The stories you share with others honor the complexity of our communities while forging a more equitable and vibrant future.

Call 651-228-4800 and leave us a voice memo. If you're more comfortable texting, you can text “Hello” to 1-833-870-4111. You can also email us at tell@mpr.org and join in on conversations in our Ground Level Facebook group.

We’d like to hear your thoughts and questions. Your ideas about solutions. How are your communities? What are you seeing today? And what do you want to see tomorrow?

Note that while we will exercise editorial judgment for language, length and avoiding personal attacks, we will not sacrifice your meaning. We will ensure your main message comes through on air and online.

The city of Nowthen decided against raising taxes to maintain current law enforcement protection. Nearby Brooklyn Center school voters decided not to lower taxes so school spending can be maintained.
Hearing attendance translates into ‘yes’ to property tax increases
Minnesota property taxpayers are facing bigger tax increases in 2012 than they have for several years. But attendance has been sparse at most of the hundreds of truth-in-taxation hearings local governments have been holding around the state.
Plea to overhaul local government hits Legislature
At a hearing yesterday, Legislators heard about government redesign efforts from city, county and school representatives.
Puzzlement reigns over tax notices; share your story
Member’s of MPR News’ Public Insight Network are sharing their views about property taxes and what they think of the local services they pay for.
Hundreds of officials from Minnesota’s cities, counties and school districts have been meeting to brainstorm ways to reshape the way local governments provide services.
Minnesota’s new broadband task force has held its first meeting.
Most local governments in Minnesota are proposing to increase their property tax levies in 2012, and the biggest percentage increases are outstate, figures from the Department of Revenue show.
Minnesota property taxpayers looking at 4.7 percent increase
Minnesota’s property tax bill is rising 1.2 percent next year, but because the state will stop paying a share, individuals and businesses are paying 4.7 percent more than this year.
North Dakota oil fields drive up costs in western Minnesota
In Wheaton, a small city near the western Minnesota border, competition from the oil fields in North Dakota is driving up the cost of road projects.
Some homeowners are getting a bigger scare out of their supposed home value than they are out of their property taxes this year. Notices counties are sending out don’t explain all.