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In the letter, mayors point out that rising property tax levies are creeping upward in many communities, partly because state aid has not kept pace with inflation or the cost of fulfilling state‑imposed obligations.
Preliminary projections have shown property tax increases of nearly 6.9 percent statewide for the next fiscal cycle, putting further pressure on families and local budgets.
One mayor described having to delay replacing aging water infrastructure because state funds were not forthcoming — even as neighborhoods watched potholes grow and pipes leak.
Another noted that his city of roughly 7,000 people faced far more stringent local auditing requirements than the systems in place at the state level.
Political Dimensions and Broad Coalitions
Interestingly, the coalition of mayors spans party lines and ideological differences. While some signatories are affiliated with Republican politics, others are independents or have previously supported Democratic leadership — including Governor Walz himself.
Their collective letter underscores that this concern is not purely partisan, but rooted in governing responsibilities and civic stewardship.
One mayor who chose not to sign — the mayor of Rochester — explained that she saw fraud and fiscal mismanagement as serious issues but felt the letter veered too far into political messaging.
She emphasized that strong economic performance in her own community made her hesitant to join a broader rebuke she viewed as potentially divisive.
However, even she condemned fraud and urged state leaders to stay mindful of local taxpayers’ burdens.
These divisions, alongside common themes, highlight how complicated the issue has become: mayors are united in practical concern, even as they diverge on strategy, tone, and political framing.
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