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3. Miscellaneous "ar 18 2888 14:47:48 Via Fax LMC ~.¡~0tI00 ()tI.I rl1 ............. A weekly legislative update from the League of Minnesota Cities Number 6 March 10,2000 Bill would increase threshold for joint and several liability On Wednesday, the Senate JUdi- ciary Comminee heard, passed, and re-reterred to the Senate Floor a bill that would Increase the threshold tor joint and several liability. The bill, S.F. 242, intro- duced by Sen. John Honinger (DFL-Mankato), was amended in comminee to increase the thresh- old to 50 percent tor municipalities and 40 percent tor others. Plymouth Mayor Joy lïerney and Jack Hennen, an anorney with the League ot Minnesota Cities Insur- ance Trust, testitied in support ot the bill on behal1 ot the League ot Minnesota Cities. Other proponents included the Minnesota Detense Lawyers Association, the Civil Justice Coalition, the Minnesota School Boards Association, and the Minnesota Society ot CPAs. Those testifying In opposition to the bill included the Minnesota Trial law- yers Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Attorney Gen- eral's Office, and private citizens. The public poliCY questions legisla- tors are struggling with is whether it is tair tor defendants to pay an entire damage award in cases where their percentage ottault Is very low, as in current law, or whether it is talr to allow seriously injured people to potentially tace a degree otlower compensation it the bill becomes law. -) &12 937 5739 AdNinistrator Page 881 Of 881 c.c~~\ ~, ~.J.S FRIDAVFAX Municipalities should be aware that several members of the committee made it clear they believed that 11 municipalities are granted an increase in the ¡Oint and several liability threshold, then the Legisla- ture should seriously consider the issue ot government immunity and eliminating the tort liability caps currently in place. The companion bill, H.E 90 intro- duced by Rep. Dave Bishop (R- Rochester), passed the House last year and has been waiting tor Senate action. The Senate Is now in the position to address the issue on the Senate floor. Senate committee revives bleacher safety bill The Senate Governmental Opera- tions Comminee reconsidered S.F. 3272 (Weiner, DFL-Eagan) Thurs- day. After the bill was successfully brought back for reconsideration, the bill was amended to allow for an exception for retractable bleachers with gaps less than 9 inches, five- tiered bleachers, and an extension in the compliance deadline from Jan. 1, 2001 to Aug. 1, 2001. The House companion, H.E 2846 Is pending House tloor action. Looking ahead- Property tax proposals forthcoming The property Tax Division of the House Tax Committee will review the property tax proposal ot Rep. Ron Abrams (R-Mlnneronka) on Wednesday. The derails have not yet been released, but Rep. Abrams has previously expressed support for continuing the property tax class rate compression that has been enacted in the past three years. His proposal will likely recommend that the upper tier 01 commercial/industrial property be reduced from 3.4 percent to 3 percent. As in the past, home- owners will likely be protected 1rom shltting taxes through increases in either the Education Homestead Credit or HACA to local govem- ments. The proposal may also contain an extension otlevy limits. While Rep. Abrams has stated he is not a big tan of levy limits, he has indicated he considers them to be justi1iable when major changes to the tax system are enacted. The Senate will also reveal its omnibus property tax proposal next week. The bill is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday in the Property Tax and Local Government Budget DIVIsion. In recent years the Senate has not supported levy limits, so hope1ully the Senate bill will not contain a levy limit extension. The governor has proposed no major changes to the property tax system this year, although he does adVocate an extension 01 levy limits. The governor's staff Is work- ing on a proposal to overhaul the tax system 10r consideration in the 2001 legislative session. For more InformøtlD1l on cUy IO/fIrJJI.O Irs"", co_d any mombor of lho LiNJpO of M""'OSOla CUIo. 11llor/fO.ornmo-1 RoloilDns loam. (651) 281-1200 or (BOO) 925-1122 lWYD:ìcl{(1'1 ", '<>;;{ <^,t" - '.'1I~"<""9~,_, I ~,'''; ¡/ Y. art.com- MIIfCfI /ØIIIIf$lo.AlII-'" Y' Page 1 of4 Ne Ár- AI,., 5,ttI;.,,, ~.t-. \ Multiple Listing Service 1998-1999 home sales l Published Sunday, March 12, 2000 Multiple Listing Service 1998-1999 home sales . .-..,..0118 .......... (excludes non-metro districts and those with fewer than 40 sales) West Metro Division 1998 1999 Percent median median change Phillips 40,000 58,000 45.0 Calhoun - Isles 205,000 280,000 36.6 Lake Minnetonka 202,000 262,000 29.7 LongfeUow 88,000 106,000 20.5 Northeast 88,200 105,000 19.0 Southwest 143,000 169,900 18.8 Nokomis 102,000 120,180 17.8 powderhorn 77 ,000 90,000 16.9 Minnetonka 178,500 214,000 19.9 University 105,000 122,000 16.2 r {Chanbassen 202,000 239,900 16.& "J7t Camden 70,000 80,900 15.6 Chaska 155,000 183,000 18.1 Hennepin County 169,700 200,000 17.9 Northwest Brooklyn Center 96,900 114,000 17.6 Robbinsdale 98,000 114,900 17.2 Golden VaUey 139,800 162,900 16.5 North 55,000 62,600 13.8 Central 118,900 134,900 13.5 Eden Prairie 210,000 242,000 15.2 http://www.startribune.comlstOnLinelCgi-binlartic1e?thisSlug=lPROPGR12 3/12/00 ,