The Homestead Property Credit–it’s being blamed for tax hikes all over the state. With the elimination of the credit, homestead land owners in the northwest district saw their property taxes increase an average of 11.4%; agricultural and business land owners saw even greater increases. That’s on the shoulders of county governments, according to District 11 State Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen. Local governments wanted to control their budgets at a local level, and ending the credit meant county boards could tax at a local level, without involving the state government. But the transition hasn’t been as smooth as some had hoped. In fact, many counties are cutting services, Ingebrigtsen says, as revenues aren’t keeping pace with the services counties provide.

Ingebrigtsen represents Stevens, Grant, Douglas, and Todd counties. He can be reached at his senate office at (651) 297-8063.