Letter to the editor: Kieffer’s vote on market value was insightful, caring

I am writing to take exception to several letters written to the Woodbury Bulletin.

First – respect. It is the Affordable Care Act, not Obama Care. Our senator is Sen. Ted Lillie, not “Traveling Ted.” Intelligent and respectful debate on issues is good. Name-calling is not.

Secondly, some writers are criticizing Rep. Andrea Kieffer for substantially increasing their property taxes by repealing the Market Value Homestead Credit.

There are two things missing from the letters – the Homestead Market Value Exclusion and a number.

When Rep. Kieffer and our other legislators eliminated the credit, they also passed the exclusion. The exclusion was intentionally created to preserve and protect the net property tax reduction we have for eligible Woodbury citizens. Rep. Kieffer supported the exclusion and protected our eligible citizens.

To those people who are complaining that their taxes skyrocketed because of the loss of the credit, list the amount. Start with your 2012 taxes, adjust your taxes for the loss of the credit, and then adjust them for the exclusion. Check the meeting minutes for changes in the taxes from the various taxing entities, then adjust them for the change in your apportionment. When you are done, if your taxes really skyrocketed because of the net effect of the credit/exclusion, tell us by how much.

Rep. Kieffer eliminated the credit that helped transfer our tax money to cities like Minneapolis. That was right. Then our representative passed the exclusion to protect our eligible citizens from losing their net savings effect of the credit on their tax bill. That was insightful and caring.

Tom Owens - Woodbury

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, updates, elections