David Brauer says, in part regarding the proposed LGA reductions: > ...(LGA pushes the tax > burden from state taxpayers to local property taxpayers.) The > folks who save > money via LGA cuts live in wealthier suburbs with fewer social service > needs.
[MH] Don't forget that taxpayers in Mpls. also pay into the statewide LGA pool (along with others across the state), and that to maintain it status quo, would require us to pay increased taxes as well. I believe there is also a limit on how much local taxes can be raised in order to recoup the proposed state reductions-- whatever they end up being (if not, there should be). It's not necessarily a zero-sum game. ~~~~~ I also think increased pressure by voters/residents needs to be placed on Hennepin County officials in many areas involving housing, transit and social services. County budgets dwarf local budgets, and it seems they receive very little scrutiny. We do live in a metro-area and the central-cities should not have to carry all the water in this uphill budget crunch. Also, how can the Mpls. Library Board improve operational and service efficiencies through better coordination and cooperation with the Hennepin County system-- forget historic turf arguments, competing unions, different computer systems, etc., and figure out how to improve efficiency-- provide customers more with less. The model is broke, the bucket leaking. The referendum provides the capital, what's the operating plan? ~~~~~ As to the recent class warfare rants by others on the list, if 'class defense' arguments are dependent upon continued and growing subsidy, they represent loosing defense tactics. Dave Shove suggests that,"Mpls should be actively fostering *small business* and *co-ops* run by non-rich citizens." I too support small business, but not through the use of public subsidies. Successful business and job creation should be based on sound business plans and models, where the products and services produced create value for consumers; where the products and services are competitively priced; and where there is consumer demand for the goods and services produced, now and over the longer term. Successful business must be able to survive and grow in a dynamic marketplace, and not be dependant upon taxpayer subsidy. The same logic should be applied to big business-- the voters just spoke too late regarding the local Target and Block E fiascos (although the Target/BlockE arguments aren't quite an apples-to-apples comparison with the small business scenario). Buckle up, we're in for a rough ride! Michael Hohmann Linden Hills www.mahohmannbizplans.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
