Minnesota Seasonal Recreational Property Owners Forum

I own a holiday property near Lake Wanaka in New Zealand. I’ve always been really impressed with the local council (QLDC) - they recognise that tourists like coming to the area because of the natural beauty and pollution-free environment.

Growing tourism while protecting the environment is a challenge because they can counteract each other but by involving the local people and property owners in planning issues, they get the support of local people. Local people are aware of how to avoid pollution and they are keen to adopt more environmental protection measures.

The newly released Minnesota Conservation and Preservation Plan, which was three years in the writing at a cost of many millions, lists the biggest threats to our environment and quality of life.

Two of the big ones are forest fragmentation and loss of lake shore habitat. They specifically point to tax and market pressures as the cause for mush of this fragmentation, and recommend incentives as a first step solution.

Here we go into 2009 and I’m looking at an increase of 24% on my property on Big Pine Lke(Finlayson). Thanks to the Mn.Legislature taking away some credits and the county considering “Rich” Lake home owners an UNLIMITED supply of income the taxes will increase at double digit for us. While off lake folks are stuck also, but the major burden rises to the lakeshore owners who try to make their property look nice improve the lakeshore with DNR approved programs, and then are kicked in the teeth for trying to improve the lake by massive increases in their taxes. Aitkin is pirating as much as they can also, with massive over values of property, that makes it difficult to comprehend where the buyers for this property will come from once the cost leads to fore closures. Same for Pine. The taxes are archaically based, and only subtract from the property owners income which could be best spent at businesses in Pine and Aitkin. Just wait until the Bloomington rep gets her Regressive tax changes and we “all” will be totally in the poor house. Maybe it’s time for the Lakeshore Rebellion?????????