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State Representative Dean Urdahl
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4344
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Deficit leads Annandale town hall conversation
To the editor:
On February 28 I held a town hall meeting at the Homestyle Cafe in Annandale. About 30 citizens attended and we engaged in an informative exchange. I've been to several meetings in the past couple of weeks where many people representing governmental units or special interests appealed their needs or desires.
Many of their comments had merit and were important to hear. It was refreshing in Annandale to listen to folks who largely represented no particular group but just wanted to listen and give opinions.
Much of the conversation centered on the budget deficit in Minnesota. It was interesting to hear suggestions of where cuts could be made, how important the horse industry is to Minnesota, that we should consider extending the sales tax to clothing, that expanding gambling could generate revenue, how the clean-air emissions proposal is bad for Minnesota and the automobile industry. The effects of property tax increases and Local Government Aid were addressed by Mayor McAlpin.
People were concerned about how the Green Acres changes affected people, the need to create jobs and the impact of the recession on jobs in Minnesota. We discussed school funding and the increases in Health and Human Services increases as well as other issues.
I explained how the recession is fueled by a decline in tax revenue due to lost jobs, reduction in consumer purchases and less corporate tax collection. A better job market in this state would help generate more tax dollars and help us out of this recession. I outlined the state budget revenue and expenditures. An important fact is that HHS expenditures are slated to increase by 20 percent in the next biennium. The Governor has proposed a 10-percent increase. Thus, it is really a reduction in an increase.
The present budget proposed by Governor Pawlenty actually reduces total spending in our state budget even as some areas continue to increase. We face a tough problem in fixing our budget problems. I appreciate the suggestions made in Annandale and I look forward to hearing from more people. I thank all those attended and look forward to future similar discussions in Annandale.
Sincerely,
Dean Urdahl
State Representative
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