MICHELE AND MARCUS BACHMANN $3,814 IN ARREARS ON 2009 PROPERTY TAXES

By Karl Bremer Congresswoman Michele Bachmann should spend more time in Minnesota. She might remember to pay her property taxes. According to Washington County Property Tax records, as of May 20, Michele and Marcus Bachmann were $3,814 in arrears on their 2009 property taxes for their million-dollar West Lakeland Township mansion. That includes an apparent penalty of $74.80 accrued already. The taxes were due May 15. Their total property tax bill for 2010 is $7,480. The Bachmanns bought the 5,200-square-foot home on the 18th hole of Stoneridge Golf Course in 2008. In 2007, it was featured as a “Dream Home” in the Parade of Homes tour. “Casual elegance defined by deep rich colors and textures is presented in a European flavor throughout this four-bedroom walkout residence,” the listing read. “The stone exterior with a grand manor roof sets the stage for this dream home overlooking the 18th hole of the Stoneridge Golf Course. “The arched stone entry is complimented with a western red cedar distressed door with iron highlights. Once inside the foyer, iron rails and hand scraped walnut plank flooring invites you into the gallery where arched openings lead to the magnificent main floor spaces. ”Both the formal dining adjacent to the foyer and a quaint breakfast bay overlook the golf course allowing for quality entertaining or a casual living atmosphere.” Few amenities were spared: maple kitchen with granite and limestone countertops, powder room, wine cellar, bar, exercise room, resource room, four bathrooms, spa, fully paneled library with a see-through fireplace. And, of course, a three-car garage. Built in 2005 on 3.22 acres, it carried an original price tag of $1.75 million, but was listed for as low as $949,900 in the summer of 2008. The Bachmanns’ purchase price is not known. The assessed value of the Bachmanns’ “Dream Home” has been dropping like a rock since it was built, from $1,315,600 in 2006, to $1,271,800 in 2008, the year the Bachmanns bought it, to $892,500 in 2010. If Michele and Marcus are having to choose between paying their property taxes or putting food on the table, perhaps they should get second jobs. After all, Bachmann told a news conference in 2008, “I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We're the workingest state in the country, and the reason why we are, we have more people that are working longer hours, we have people that are working two jobs, we have more women in the workforce than any other state.” UPDATE: According to Zillow, Bachmann paid $760,000 for the house. Click on screenshots to make larger: