Saint Paul is a community that deeply cares for its residents, particularly the most vulnerable. We are proud of our city’s excellent public services. However, residents are increasingly concerned about rising property taxes and are voicing stronger opposition to proposed levies than in recent memory. Jane Prince and Gary Todd recently highlighted these concerns in the *Reformer*, sounding the alarm about Saint Paul’s long-term fiscal health.
The reasons for these tax increases are multifaceted and complex. [The text is missing a list of challenges here; this section needs to be inserted from the original text]. These challenges present Saint Paul with a significant dilemma. While not unique to our city, they necessitate innovative solutions and urgent action from both state and local policymakers. Traditional responses to budgetary pressures often involve a binary choice: raise property taxes or cut public spending.
As co-chairs of Sustain Saint Paul, we reject this limited framework. The past several years have shown a growing need for robust social services, from housing assistance to public safety. Simultaneously, rising property taxes threaten Saint Paul’s affordability for everyone, including seniors and young families who might consider moving to the suburbs.
Neither of these conventional options leads to an equitable future. Therefore, we propose a third way: a proactive strategy to diversify the city’s tax base sustainably, fostering economic growth, protecting vital public services, and ensuring affordability. This approach has three key components: [The text is missing the list of three components here; this section needs to be inserted from the original text].
These strategies aim to expand Saint Paul’s tax base over time, easing the burden on homeowners and renters and building long-term resilience and prosperity. Our city’s fiscal health is a shared responsibility, requiring solutions that reflect community values: equity, sustainability, and opportunity for all.
It’s time for Saint Paul to adopt innovative approaches that move beyond the status quo. By expanding our tax base, we can ensure Saint Paul remains a vibrant and affordable place to live for generations to come.
*by Luke Hanson and Melissa Wenzel, Minnesota Reformer, December 18, 2024*
(The following sections are the author bios, copyright information, and the Minnesota Reformer’s information which should be included but are not part of the main article rewrite.)
Luke Hanson lives in Ward 3 and is co-chair of the Sustain Saint Paul Board, a grass-roots organization of residents committed to building Saint Paul’s long-term prosperity and livability through abundant housing, low-carbon transportation, and sustainable land use.
Melissa Wenzel lives in Ward 2 and is co-chair of the Sustain Saint Paul Board, a grass-roots organization of residents committed to building Saint Paul’s long-term prosperity and livability through abundant housing, low-carbon transportation, and sustainable land use.
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