Grant Hauschild

If you’ve opened your property tax statement recently, you’ve probably had the same reaction I’ve been hearing across northern Minnesota: How did it get this high?
For many families, it’s not just one bill going up. It’s everything at once from groceries and gas to child care and cars. And a big reason why is this: Decisions made far outside our communities are pushing costs directly onto local taxpayers.
The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ out of Washington is a prime example.
It shifts major costs onto states and counties while adding new unfunded mandates to programs that our local governments are responsible for delivering. In northern Minnesota, that doesn’t stay on paper. Counties don’t have the ability to absorb those costs. They pass them on through big property tax increases.
That’s what people are seeing right now.
At the same time, those same federal changes are putting real pressure on our rural hospitals. When coverage gets cut or harder to access, hospitals are left picking up the pieces. In small communities like ours, that can mean fewer services, longer drives, and real uncertainty about the future of our local hospital or clinic.
We also have to be honest about this. Not every challenge families are facing is coming from Washington. Rising costs, higher demand for services, and pressure on local budgets are all playing a role. But that’s exactly why our response at the state level matters so much. We can’t control every decision made in Washington, but we are responsible for how we respond here in Minnesota.
That’s the reality we’re facing. So, the question becomes: What do we do about it?
In the State Senate, I’ve been focused on one thing this session: pushing back and delivering real relief for northern Minnesota.
That starts with property taxes.
I’ve introduced a $100 million property tax refund plan to get direct relief out the door to homeowners this year. If costs are being pushed onto working Minnesotans, we should be pushing relief right back.
We’re also working to fix a long-standing issue for our Northland schools with my legislation for a seasonal recreation property tax replacement aid. In too many northern districts, year-round residents end up carrying a heavier burden because seasonal properties or cabins send their operating levy property taxes to the state’s General Fund, rather than their local school district. This proposal helps rebalance that so local homeowners aren’t footing more than their fair share.
On health care, we’re putting together a targeted relief package focused on rural Minnesota in the State Senate. That includes support for uncompensated care for rural hospitals and providers under growing strain, as well as continued investment in rural EMS so ambulance services can continue to operate in hard-to-reach areas like ours. Access to care shouldn’t depend on your zip code but federal actions are making it harder for rural health care to survive.
And we’re advancing a bonding and infrastructure bill that makes real investments in our region. Roads, bridges, and critical local infrastructure that not only strengthen our economy but help reduce the pressure on local property taxpayers over time.
At the same time, we’re making sure taxpayer dollars are protected.
The State Senate has led on bipartisan efforts to crack down on fraud and improve oversight. That work is ongoing, and it’s encouraging to see the House beginning to move in that direction as well. This should never be a partisan issue. It’s about trust, and taxpayers deserve accountability.
All of this is happening in a divided Legislature. That means we have a choice.
We can spend our time trading political talking points, or we can focus on where we agree and deliver results.
In northern Minnesota, people expect us to get things done. They want lower costs, strong schools, access to health care, and infrastructure that works.
Right now, too many decisions made far away are making life more expensive here at home.
My focus this session has been simple: push back on those pressures, work across the aisle where we can, and deliver real, practical relief for the communities I represent.
Because if we don’t stand up for northern Minnesota, no one else will.