Minneapolis taxpayers may get some relief

Minneapolis property taxpayers may get some relief next year.

The Minneapolis City Council's budget committee passed a measure that would create a property tax relief account. The author of the proposal, budget committee chair Betsy Hodges, said the money will be used on a one-time basis to help ease the burden on taxpayers in 2012.

Hodges' proposal starts the account by taking nearly $3 million from a road-repaving fund. She says that alone is enough to reduce property taxes by one percentage point.

Hodges said, even though road maintenance is a high priority, the council needs to do more to bring down property taxes.

"I'm trying to let us do what we can for Minneapolis property taxpayers in 2012," Hodges said. "And this is one strategy for a year we know is going to be bad."

Hodges said money from the relief account may be reallocated to the police and fire departments if the Legislature cuts government aid to the city.

The council will vote on the measure later this week.

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