MCGA President testifies in support of buffer property tax relief

Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) President Tim Waibel testified before the Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Property Taxes Wednesday, supporting buffer tax relief, which has been one of MCGA’s top legislative priorities over the last three years.

In his testimony supporting the legislation (SF 251), Waibel stressed the tax credit is about basic fairness: Farmers were never compensated for the loss of land through the Minnesota Buffer Law while still being taxed on land no longer producing revenue.

Waibel also noted the efforts farmers have made to become compliant with the buffer law—the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources recently reported 99 percent of farmers are in compliance or will be soon.

Waibel also stated there is broad support for addressing buffer property taxes, with 85 percent of Minnesotans in support of compensating farmers for the loss of land, according to a recent statewide survey conducted by MCGA through a third party.

You can view Waibel’s full testimony below. For the future of SF 251, the bill was laid over for further consideration by the committee and possible inclusion in an omnibus property tax bill.