Friday, March 8, 2013
Find out what the governor said he will change next week that will benefit area businesses.
On Friday morning, Gov. Mark Dayton told TwinWest Chamber of Commerce members that he will take a business-to-business sales tax plan out of his revised budget next week, according to media reports. MPR reported the governor "has heard a lot of concerns about his proposal to add sales tax to the services business sell each other." Last month, a tax policy expert told minnpost.com that extending sales tax to these services—such as accounting, advertising and legal—was not a good idea. “It is very rare when all economists agree,” said John Spry, a professor of business economics at the University of St. Thomas and an expert on state tax policy. “But I am still trying to find an economist who studies this area who thinks taxing business-to-…
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…
Monday, January 14, 2013
School board members discussed budget assumptions at a recent meeting.
During a Jan. 7 school board meeting, Robbinsdale Area School board members discussed general fund budget revenue and expenditure assumptions. In a document prepared by Jeff Priess, Executive Director of Business Services, numbers show that district revenues and expenditures are expected to increase next year. For the 2013-2014 school year, Robbinsdale Area Schools is expecting to see a revenue increase of $70,628 from local tuition, fees and admissions. Revenues from Minnesota’s basic general education aid, a primary source of funding, are expected to increase by $849,827. Property taxes will also increase, providing additional dollars. When it comes to expenditures, the district is preparing to spend more on employee salaries and …
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 …
John
5:27 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The aspect I find especially difficult is figuring out how much money is simply redistributed. A hundred years ago, very little money was redistributed by the government. Pull out the money that the government gives right back to its citizens and I think the actual "spending" would remain pretty constant. more ›