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<br />Although the league avoids tax-policy debates, DeBoer said he believes its <br />annual survey does help bring about change. For example, he said, communities <br />that ranked high in 2005 were twice as likely to move down in the rankings than <br />up in 2006. <br />The good news for Minneapolis taxpayers was that the city dropped out of the <br />top five. It didn't drop all that far, however; the city is now sixth highest in <br />percentage of home value going to property taxes. <br />In Lino lakes, Deb Bly, who campaigned for the Centennial schools increase, <br />noted that Centerville had placed at the top of league rankings before. Now, she <br />said, residents get the benefit of seeing their schools hiring new teachers and <br />shrinking class sizes. <br />levy advocates, she added, continue to monitor K-12 finance and tax issues. <br />"If anything," Bly said, "I would say [the campaign] woke us up - and we're more <br />engaged than ever." <br />Anthony lonetree. 612-673-4455. alonetree@startribune.com <br />@2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. <br />