1970 0727 Council Resolution - Laserfiche WebLink

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FACT SHEET ON LIEND Ili T NO. 1 AND THE MINNESOTA COMMITTEE ON TAX• -EXEMPT PROPERTY Amendment No. 1 is a proposal to amend the Minnesota Constitution, Article 9, Section 1, Providing for the Classes and Treatment of Property Exempt from Taxes. The state constitution now provides that: ...public burying grounds, public school houses, public hospitals, academies, colleges, universities, and all seminaries of learning, all churches, church property and houses of worship, institutions of purely public charity; and public property used exclusively for any public purpose, shall be exempt from taxation." Amendment No. 1 would add this sentence: 'The legislature may by law, define or limit the property exempt under this section, other than churches, houses of worship, and property solely used for educational purposes by academies, colleges, universities and seminaries of learning. The Amendment, therefore, will give the legislature the authority which it does not now have, to enact laws defining and limiting the property exempt under Article 9, Section 1, without changing the tax-exempt status of churches and houses of worship, or property used solely for educational purposes. The Amendment, itself, cannot change the status of any property that is presently tax-exempt. It will enable the legislature to make these changes by enacting laws. Some of the currently tax-exempt property which the legislature might consider for change if the Amendment is passed includes college and school -owned residences for teachers; residential property of clergymen, some of whom are without churches; camps and recreation grounds owned by durches and other non-profit groups some retirement and nursing homes; vacant land owned by institutions; and major private industry on land owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The 1969 state legislature voted unanimously to place the Amendment on the ballot in the November 3, 1970 election, following lengthy hearings on tax-exempt property in 1968 by a legislative sub -committee. The Minnesota Committee on Tax -Exempt Property was organized as a non-profit corporation to inform Minnesota citizens on the extent of tax-exempt property in the state and its effect on government operations and finances, and to make the public aware of Amendment No. 1 and its providsions. The Committee's Board of Directors consists of: David K. Roe, co-chairman President, Minnesota AFL-CIO Wheelock Whitney, co-chairman Chief Executive Officer Dain, Kalman & Quail William R. Chapman, treasurer Chairman of the Board Midland National Bank