Bill Would Cut Farmers' Property Taxes

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Rural lawmakers are aiming to cut farmers' property tax bills for construction projects.

A group of legislators from greater Minnesota says farmers pay $10 for every $1 city residents pay when schools, cities and counties charge for new projects because farmers own more land. They're introducing a bill that would only tax a farmer for his or her house, garage and one acre of land in those situations.

Rural issues are playing a bigger role at the Legislature this year. Sen. Lyle Koenen says he hopes he can convince urban lawmakers that his bill should pass because it's fair.

Koenen has pushed a similar bill in past sessions. But the Democrat from Clara City says rising land prices have made it a more pressing problem.

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