Carlton County Board Asked to Enter the Enbridge Property-Tax Fight
One of the most politically significant items before the Carlton County Board on July 27 is a request that the County endorse an op-ed concerning Enbridge Energy’s ongoing pipeline-property-tax litigation.
The agenda cover sheet states that County Assessor Kyle Holmes is seeking County Board support, along with support from affected townships and school districts, for an op-ed addressing the latest litigation between Enbridge and the State of Minnesota.
The proposed article argues that counties do not determine the taxable value of interstate pipelines but may nevertheless be required to refund taxes if the state’s valuation is later overturned. It warns that such refunds can affect county governments, schools, townships, emergency services, road maintenance, libraries, and other local programs.
That is a legitimate public-finance concern. But endorsement by the County Board would also place Carlton County’s official voice into an active dispute involving a major private corporation and the State of Minnesota.
The packet identifies local-government representatives as the proposed article’s authors. It also contains Enbridge-branded advocacy materials describing the corporation’s position concerning Line 93 and pollution-control tax exemptions. The presence of those materials does not establish that Enbridge wrote the proposed op-ed, but it makes transparency regarding the article’s origin, drafting, editing, and intended distribution particularly important.
Before approving an endorsement, commissioners should publicly answer several questions:
Who drafted and revised the final article?
Did Enbridge or its representatives review or suggest language?
Will commissioners sign personally, or will the County endorse the article institutionally?
Was the proposed position reviewed by our dumbass County Attorney Jeff Doucher?
Were alternative perspectives presented to the Board?
Where will the article be published, and will readers be told that it reflects an official County position?
The financial consequences of pipeline-tax litigation may be substantial. That makes open discussion more important — not less. Carlton County residents should be able to distinguish between an independent County policy position and participation in a coordinated public-relations campaign.