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 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 …
Monday, July 4, 2011
The city spent about $100,000 less in 2010 than it did in 2009, and is on track to be $50,000 under budget for fiscal year 2011.
The Oakdale City Council started talking about the city’s 2012 budget at a workshop meeting Tuesday, June 28. Here are some facts about the upcoming budget year from a presentation by Oakdale Finance Director Suzanne Warren:
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The 2012 budget comes after Washington County has experienced reductions of more than $7.2 million in state aid over the past three years.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners got its first glance at the 2012 budget outlook during a workshop Tuesday morning. The 2012 budget will come on the heels of more than $7.2 million in reductions to state aid over the past three years, while at the same time, more residents are turning to the county for services in hard economic times. The county potentially faces more state aid reductions in 2012. Washington County receives about $23.7 million from the State of Minnesota that could potentially be at risk over the next couple of years as the Legislature addresses the state budget deficit, Deputy County Administrator Molly O’Rourke said. State aid has already been reduced in the overall county program aid, as well as in block …
Friday, December 17, 2010
Oakdale's finance director laid out where the city's portion of property tax money from an average home goes.
The median value home in Oakdale—with a market value of about $200,000—would pay $715 of its property tax dollars to the city of Oakdale in 2011, said Oakdale Finance Director Suzanne Warren at the city's Truth in Taxation hearing Tuesday night. Based on the budget passed by the Oakdale City Council Tuesday, here's where that money would go: Where 2011 Oakdale Tax Dollars From a $200,000 House Would Go
44.97192
-92.96451
Oakdale City Hall
1584 Hadley Ave N, Saint Paul, MN
/articles/where-do-those-oakdale-tax-dollars-go
1751907
/locations/2776049
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Meanwhile, Commissioner Myra Peterson floats the idea of adding two members to the board during discussions of commissioners’ pay.
While Washington County will spend about $33 million more in 2011 than it did in 2010, the amount taxpayers have to kick in will remain the same. The Washington County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved its 2011 budget and levy. The budget increase (to $216.6 million total) is covered by nearly $36 million in anticipated bond proceeds and additional intra-governmental funds from the local, state and federal levels, according Melinda Kirk, a county budget analyst. That means taxpayers will pay the same $86.78 million into the budget that they did in 2010. "We're spending the same amount of money in 2011 as 2010," said Commissioner Bill Pulkrabek, "so as far as keeping a lid on property taxes, it's an excellent budget." Only five …
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday's Truth in Taxation hearing at the Oakdale City Council meeting gives residents the chance to comment on the proposed 2011 taxes and budget.
The Oakdale City Council will hold a Truth in Taxation hearing at its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday night, and then vote on whether to adopt the proposed 2011 tax levy and budget. The hearing is an opportunity for the public to learn about and comment on the city's tax and budget proposal. Here are a few facts about Oakdale's 2011 General Fund Operating Budget and levy:
44.97192
-92.96451
Oakdale City Hall
1584 Hadley Ave N, Saint Paul, MN
/articles/oakdale-residents-get-chance-to-learn-about-comment-on-proposed-2011-budget-and-taxes-at-hearing
1751907
/locations/2733193
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 ›