County Leaders Meet with Legislators to Address Rising Taxes and Unfunded Mandates
- Trinity Gruenberg
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Commissioners met with legislators during their regular meeting on September 30, to discuss the challenges facing Wadena County, focusing on tax disparities, state mandates, and the impact of recent legislation.
Board Chair Bill Stearns opened the meeting by highlighting the varying county tax rates across Minnesota. Rock County has the lowest tax rate in the state at 17.29, while Mille Lacs County has the highest at 66.61. Wadena County ranks eighth highest in the state with a tax rate of 52.58.
“There’s no rhyme or reason based on the ability to tax the people and pay for the services,” said Stearns.
Commissioner Jon Kangas added, “We have a low population with low income, and our high tax base is no longer affordable. It’s beyond unaffordable for many already.” He suggested that some solutions would require legislative action, including the possibility of merging smaller counties.
Commissioner Ron Noon echoed concerns about the impact on local businesses, stating, “We’re being hamstrung by these conditions we have to follow. Our residents are questioning whether they should build in Otter Tail. We’re kind of between a rock and a hard spot here, folks.”
Commissioner Brian Winkels stated, “What does affordable housing look like in Wadena County? Given that high tax rate and median household income, it makes it really difficult for local residents.”
Representatives Krista Knudsen (5A) and Mike Wiener (5B) and State Senator Paul Utke (District 5) addressed the commissioners’ frustrations regarding state mandates and the legislative process.
Knudsen explained, “We’ve seen all these one-size-fits-all mandates that are Metro-centric, focused on issues in the Metro area, and forced onto all of Minnesota, regardless of need or cost.”
Wiener added, “The downshift of tax burden onto the counties is affecting the whole state. It’s horrible..."
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