Tuesday, May 7, 2013
"I want to see our businesses grow, not our government."
As a long-time resident of Minnesota, I would like to voice my concern about the budget proposal that recently passed the House and Senate. The tax package includes new taxes that were intended to target high-income Minnesotans, but will actually impact small businesses. Small businesses drive our economy; they create local jobs for local people. Taxes that stunt small business growth will stunt the growth of our entire economy. Before our legislators implement taxes that will hurt our small businesses and threaten our economic growth, they should review the budget and eliminate wasteful spending. Too often it seems that new taxes are the answer to everything. I think our elected officials should work a little harder to draft a budget …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
"Before taking another dime from our hardworking taxpayers, shouldn’t we go line-by-line through our budget and cut the waste?" says Woodbury resident Kelly Fenton.
On Wednesday evening, April 24, 2013, while you were tucking your children into bed, the Minnesota House Democrats passed a $2.6 billion tax increase. This breaks down to $547 for every man, woman, and child. This is the largest tax increase for Minnesota in over 30 years. In short, the Democrats raised taxes on each and every hardworking Minnesota taxpayer. Everyone will pay more for alcohol, tobacco, sports memorabilia, car rentals and more. Despite promising during last fall’s campaign to “tax the rich,” Democrats have proven themselves unable to say no to any and all special interests who want to grow the size of government. What’s worse, this tax bill raises income taxes on over 30 percent of Minnesotans. You read that correctly: …
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The latest budget forecast for Minnesota came out this week, projecting a smaller deficit than previously anticipated.
JoAnn Ward, a first-term state House representative from Woodbury, says a revised budget forecast for Minnesota is encouraging, but more work lies ahead. The February budget forecast released this week shows a projected deficit of $627 million for fiscal years 2014-15, down from November’s projected $1.1 billion deficit. “Minnesota is making real progress towards economic recovery and I am encouraged that the state is in a better place now than a few months ago,” Ward (DFL-Woodbury) said in a statement. “We still must tackle a large deficit, but I am confident that we will close this gap in a responsible way that sets up Minnesota for future growth and prosperity.” Republicans, meanwhile, said that despite the improved projections, the DFL…
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Residents will have the chance to give their feedback on the latest budget options.
South Washington County Schools officials will present 2013-14 budget information at three upcoming public meetings. The meetings are set for: The meetings will include a presentation and an opportunity for residents to comment on each of the proposed budget options. All meetings will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. in the schools' media centers. More information on the process is available on the district’s website. (Budget options will be available on the page starting Feb. 22.) The school board will likely discuss the options at its March 7 meeting, with a final recommendation for approval at the March 21 meeting, according to a release from the district. “In order to provide public input on the proposed level of services, based on budget …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The DFLer released a statement Wednesday shortly after the governor's address.
State Rep. JoAnn Ward, who represents the northwest part of Woodbury in House District 53A, released the following statement about Gov. Mark Dayton's 2013 State of the State address. “Governor Dayton is taking a fresh approach to our state budget and priorities. Instead of the status quo of recent years that balances the budget on the backs of middle class families and small businesses, the governor is proposing to structurally balance the budget in a way that puts Minnesota on the path to economic prosperity. I look forward to working with Governor Dayton, Republicans and Democrats on ways to improve education, create jobs, invest in veterans and move our state forward. I encourage Woodbury, Maplewood, Oakdale and Landfall residents to …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled his budget proposal Tuesday.
Woodbury’s lone Republican lawmaker wasn’t impressed, while the city’s two DFL legislators, part of a new majority at the Capitol, say the governor’s proposed budget is a good starting point. Dayton on Tuesday unveiled a proposed state budget and tax plan that would, among other things, lower Minnesota’s sales tax but broaden it to cover more items such as higher-priced clothing, car repairs and other services. He says it would also eliminate the state’s $1.1 billion budget deficit and balance government spending and revenue over the next two fiscal years. Rep. Andrea Kieffer, a Republican in her second term at the Legislature, said Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget “increases taxes all over the place.” “That’s not a big surprise,” she told Patch…
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Take our poll; then click on to our Patch stories below to see what legislators and others are saying.
Gov. Mark Dayton this week unveiled a proposed state budget and tax plan that would, among other things, lower Minnesota's sales tax from 6.875 percent to 5.5 percent but broaden it to cover more items such as higher-priced clothing, car repairs and other services. In his quest to avoid a projected $1.1 billion revenue shortfall, Dayton said his plan also includes raising the income on some groups of taxpayers (such as the state's 2 percent of highest-income earners). He is proposing to reduce property taxes and cut the corporate tax rate on businesses. (To see a Patch story and UpTake video of Dayton's speech, click on this link.) Bottom line: The governor said he wants to provide property tax relief, boost funding for K-12 education, …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Gov. Mark Dayton, in his first appearance since having back surgery late last year, will outline his proposed budget for the next two years.
Laying out financial plans for the next two years, and with a Democratic controlled Legislature out in front of him, Gov. Mark Dayton will address both the public and public servants at the Minnesota State Capitol this morning. You can watch streaming video, live, courtesy of the UpTake right here as Dayton will lay out a series of tax hikes, line-item increases and an expected payment shift for Minnesota schools in his address. It's the first public appearance for Dayton since he had back surgery in Rochester, MN last month. Media outlets such as Minnesota Public Radio are saying the budget could have a big impact on Dayton's political future. The first-term governor has not hinted whether or not he will run again for the state's top seat…
Friday, January 11, 2013
Meetings will be held later this month, and an online survey will go live on the district’s website Jan. 15.
South Washington County Schools will hold a series of upcoming meetings—and post a survey on its website—as it looks for feedback on services amid budget constraints. “The Service Level Process being developed, and soon to be presented, is intended to support improved alignment of what we do and what we provide for students to the financial resources over time,” reads a release from the district. “All District 833 parents and residents are invited and encouraged to attend the upcoming conversations regarding the alignment of services to the budget.” The meetings with residents will outline district services and how South Washington County Schools plans to “better align our financial resources,” the release says. Following a presentation, …
Friday, January 4, 2013
With so many challenges on the table, Patch wants to know what issues you think are most important.
With another legislative session just around the corner, senators and representatives have no shortage of challenges ahead of them. Lawmakers plan to convene hearings on gun control in the wake of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. They’ll review a recommendation from a governor-appointed task force to increase gas taxes and tab fees in response to a projected $50 billion shortfall in transportation funding. The DFL majority and defeat of the marriage amendment in the 2012 election could even prompt the Legislature to take up the issue of gay marriage. And looming over everything is a projected $1.1 billion deficit that legislators will have to close before adjourning for the year. With so many issues on the …
Truth
1:09 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
I agree Jennifer. It really gets old subsidizing everybody else. We have to make sure every "underprivledged" kid has an ipad. I don't have an ipad, but it is more important to raise my taxes so that I can pay for that luxury for other people. more ›