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State Representative Michael Beard
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8872
For more information contact: Jodi Boyne 651-296-0640
OP/ED COLUMN
WHAT CAN WE DO WITH $3 BILLION?
By Mike Beard
District 35A, State Representative
Take a moment and try to imagine $3 billion.
Most of us cannot comprehend such a large number, yet it accounts for barely 10 percent of the state budget. Over the last two years our state spent just shy of $31.5 billion on everything from the roads to schools. In this case, “just shy” equals $13 million. Even that is a number many of us will have a hard time understanding.
But $3 billion is the increase Governor Pawlenty will propose for state government spending over the next two years. Is that a reasonable amount? Historically speaking, spending increased an average of 11.9 percent every two years. In dollar figures, that is from $13.6 billion in 1990-91 to the $31.5 billion number I mentioned earlier.
To decide if $3 billion is too much or too little, we have to look at two factors: What does it give us in return? and; Can taxpayers afford to give the government more? To the second question, I do not think taxpayers can afford a spending increase of more than $3 billion. We have dropped out of the ranking of states with super-high taxes and there is no need to go back. I believe $3 billion should be the maximum amount of new government spending, not the minimum.
So what do we – the taxpayers – get in return for a $3 billion spending increase? According to the governor in his State of the State Address, it will get us increased funding for education coupled with bonuses for meeting performance standards, market-based health care reforms to lower costs for families and businesses, and the governor says his “Next Generation Energy Plan” can help us reduce our need for fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions.
There are many more potential benefits to a $3 billion spending increase that have been offered by the governor and both parties in the House and Senate. We have ideas for reducing crime, lowering property taxes, protecting the environment and too many others to list in this small space. I have also outlined my ideas to jump-start transportation projects before they become prohibitively expensive.
Suddenly $3 billion seems like it might not be enough. Can we really do all that with “merely” $3 billion? Yes! It can go a long way when our focus is on achieving positive results. Or, as the governor puts it, “Minnesota government should stop paying for good intentions and start paying for better performance.”
If you’re still having a hard time comprehending $3 billion, think of your coin jar at home. Little things like pennies and dimes add up to serious money. Government spending works the same way. A few programs here, a few programs there and pretty soon those “little” spending items add up to more than you and I can afford to spend. Our challenge in the next five months is to decide what to spend – and what not to spend – without digging ourselves back into another deficit. So stay tuned, it’s going to be an exciting spring.
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