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Legislative Update
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope spring is treating you and your families well and that you all had a great Easter! As we continue our work at the Capitol, I want to provide a quick update on several priorities that directly impact our communities, from support for seniors and public safety to concerns over rising property taxes.
Protecting Senior Services in Our District
Our nursing homes and assisted living centers are vital to caring for aging loved ones close to home. Unfortunately, current budget proposals have failed to prioritize these facilities. Several centers in our district are facing significant funding shortfalls, putting both jobs and care at risk. This includes Lake Minnetonka Shores with a cut of $1,715,404, and The Estates at Excelsior, which loses $707,174, both by 2029.
Nursing homes are already facing unprecedented challenges across the state, especially when it comes to staffing and funding to ensure our seniors receive quality care. Unfortunately, such an important issue was not covered while we had an $18 billion surplus, but we shouldn’t be cutting a resource that is already struggling, and thousands of Minnesotans rely on. Our seniors deserve quality care. These cuts will lead to reduced staff, fewer available beds, and force families to potentially move their loved ones further from home.
I’ll continue pushing for meaningful investment in senior services to ensure our parents and grandparents get the care and dignity they deserve.
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Rising Property Taxes: Who's Really Paying?
Many of you have reached out with concerns about rising property taxes, and you’re right to be frustrated. The reality is, recent decisions at the state level are making it harder for counties and school districts to maintain services without raising local taxes.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Governor Walz’s proposed budget shifts over $1.5 billion in health and human services costs from the state to counties.
- These shifts leave local governments scrambling to fill the gap, often with property tax increases.
- At the same time, the state has passed more than 65 unfunded mandates on school districts in just the past year, while reducing funding for essential school services.
The result? Families in our area are stuck footing the bill—whether it’s through higher levies for schools or increased county taxes to maintain critical programs like disability services and senior care.
Even county officials across Minnesota have raised concerns, warning that the Governor’s plan could lead to property tax hikes of up to 12%. That’s not sustainable for working families, seniors on fixed incomes, or small business owners trying to make ends meet. I am continuing to work to reprioritize funding within our current budget, so we can ensure a more affordable Minnesota.
Thank You, Chiefs Falls and Tholen
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This year, our district says farewell to two exceptional public servants: Minnetrista Police Chief Paul Falls and South Lake Minnetonka Police Chief Mike Tholen, who are both retiring after decades of dedicated service.
Their leadership, professionalism, and deep commitment to community safety have left a lasting impact on the people they served. From building trust with residents to mentoring the next generation of officers, Chiefs Falls and Tholen have set the standard for integrity in law enforcement.
On behalf of our community, thank you for your years of service, your steady leadership, and your tireless work to keep our neighborhoods safe. You will be deeply missed, and your legacy will continue to inspire.
What Do You Think?
I want to hear from you! Your input helps guide the work I do on your behalf. Please take a moment to fill out my short survey to share your thoughts on key issues facing our state:
Link to survey
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. As always, I’ll keep working and creating common-sense policies that respect your tax dollars, protect our most vulnerable, and support safe, thriving communities.
Sincerely,
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Representative Andrew Myers
House District 45A
Co-Chair of the Suburban Solutions Caucus
“Your voice has an impact.”
Serving Excelsior, Greenwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius and Tonka Bay
Please Contact Me
Please continue to reach out with thoughts, ideas, and priorities by emailing me directly at rep.andrew.myers@house.mn.gov or calling me at my office at (651) 296-9188 or via my cell at (612) 615-8444. Your voice has an impact and allows me to better address the priorities of you and your neighbors. Thank you and have a great week.
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/RepAndrewMyers
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2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.9188 |
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