Koering sees property tax reform as priority for budget surplus

Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, identified property tax reform as his No. 1 priority for projected surplus of $1.038 billion that was announced Wednesday.

The legislator, who will start his second term in January, said he would like to see the Legislature put money into local government aid and county aid so there is less reliance on property taxes. He also said more money should be put into early childhood and kindergarten-12 education and finding a way to curb higher education tuition increases.

Koering also said he would place part of the money into the rainy day fund in case the economy has a downturn and there is a budget shortfall.