I am writing regarding my concerns with property tax increases. Going forward, please contemplate the impact of your actions on the citizens of Freeborn County before you vote to raise taxes.

Hopefully you are aware that 25% of your constituencies are retired and on a fixed income and this year received less than 1% increase in Social Security benefits. Yet, you are increasing property taxes up to 25% per property.

I am a landlord, and several of my property values have increased in the 20 to 24% range, even though major updates have not been made. I have absorbed these property tax increases for the past three years without raising rents, rather than passing them on to my tenants but can no longer afford to do so. I have been forced to raise my rents between $10 and $25 per month, which creates serious hardship for half of my tenants, who are retired and received an increase in Social Security benefits of only $5 per month.

In conclusion, I urge you to consider alternatives to these extreme increases in property taxes: options such as decreasing spending rather than adding to the financial burden of your friends and neighbors.

Tony C. Rogness

Rogness Properties AL, LLC