Republicans Pass Motion to Freeze Property Taxes

Property owners in Caledonia could see their property tax bills capped permanently if the biennial budget bill becomes law.

Authored by Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester), the Joint Finance Committee, which Vos co-chairs, passed a motion today that would prevent property taxes from increasing the next two years and make a 1.5 percent tax increase the standard after that.

Vos says taxpayers can count on this happening. 

"Taxpayers can circle this date on their calendars," Vos said in a press release.  "We’re making history by creating a permanent property tax cap.”

The measure passed the Joint Finance Committee along party lines. 

"We’re putting money where our mouth is,” Vos stated.  “We've talked about permanent property tax limits during the last campaign and now we're making it happen so local governments finally will have the fiscal certainty they need. This also will give families the assurance that their property tax bills can’t grow more than their income.”

The property tax cap is part of the 2011-2013 biennial budget bill. The full legislature is expected to approve the limit when it comes to the floor in June.