Committee hears bill to exempt Leech Lake Band Twin Cities office from property tax

Representative Sensory Murrah presented House File 1126 on March 6 seeking a property tax exemption for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe'owned Twin Cities office in Minneapolis. Testimony from tribal officials described the office as a hub for services to about 1,600 Leech Lake band members in the Twin Cities area and for broader urban Native community events and services.

Lenny Feinde, who identified himself as secretary treasurer of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, told the committee the office at 2438 20 Seventh Avenue South in Seward provides daily programming and is the base for child-welfare staff, the legal department, elder advocates and other tribal administrative services. Feinde said property-tax assessments would be a substantial operating burden for the band; he told the committee that property taxes represent roughly two thirds of anticipated building operating costs for the current year and that, without a tenant to offset taxes, operating the building for government programs alone would increase costs substantially.

"The services offered by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe at the Twin Cities office are the same as those offered by other governments that benefit from exempt property tax status," Feinde said, arguing the exemption would expand the band's ability to provide services to urban members.

Representative Sensory Murrah renewed her motion that House File 1126 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill. Committee members did not take a roll-call vote; the item was laid over for possible omnibus inclusion.

Ending: The committee took no final action beyond laying the bill over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill; no departmental opposition was recorded on the record.