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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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CONSEQUENCES
In November, Minnesotans elected a new DFL Governor and a new Republican majority in the legislature. Since then, a lot has changed at the state Capitol. But the challenges facing our economy, the state budget, and Minnesota families are still much the same.
Almost 206,000 Minnesotans are still out of work. Those who have jobs are working harder and earning less. For that reason, Minnesota is facing another massive, multi-billion dollar budget deficit. In fact, the last budget forecast showed a $6.2 billion shortfall totaling 16 percent of the state budget. This, after more than $3 billion was cut from the state budget last biennium.
Governor Mark Dayton has made it clear that he will not balance the budget with cuts alone – warning about the risks of cutting K-12 schools, state colleges and universities, nursing homes, and public safety. But new legislative leadership is pursuing a cuts-only approach, beginning with a $1 billion cut to core state services.
The Phase I budget bill (HF130) introduced by the new majority last week would cut $200 million from higher education, including the University of Minnesota and places like Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC). It would cut $460 million in aid to local governments and $71 million in funding for people with disabilities, seniors in nursing homes, and low-income families. And that is just the first round of cuts – there are no details yet about the next $5.2 billion in cuts.
Facing a huge deficit, budget cuts need to be made. But lawmakers and the Minnesotans who elected them need to understand the consequences of the decisions made at the Capitol this session. We can’t afford to cut blindly based on arbitrary targets made on a whim. Unfortunately, that’s how this bill is constructed.
As a member of the Higher Education Policy and Finance Committee, I had the chance to debate this bill last week. During the bill hearing, I asked the new committee chair what impact these cuts would have on a particular college. He couldn’t tell me. He had no idea how the bill would impact any of the community and technical colleges across the state, or how much tuition would increase as a result. Still, the committee passed the bill and sent it on its way.
Even if we are still not sure how this bill will impact local students, we know how much property taxes would go up if this bill is signed into law. The League of Minnesota Cities has carefully analyzed the potential impact of a $460 million cut to local governments. If the bill were signed into law, the City of Rochester would lose $4 million in state aid – forcing property taxes up at least $2.6 million.
I can’t tell you how often I hear from constituents concerned about rising property taxes – senior citizens on fixed incomes, middle class families, people with disabilities, and small business owners; I could tell you their names. The fact is they have reason to be concerned. Over the last eight years property taxes have gone up $3 billion in Minnesota. Repeated cuts to Local Government Aid (LGA), the renter’s credit, and aid to counties have given local governments little choice but to raise property taxes.
That’s why this new cut to local governments has caused so much concern. To dodge criticism, some legislators have proposed making these cuts while capping local property taxes. That might sound good, but if local governments sustain millions in cuts from the state and can’t raise property taxes, they will have no choice but to lay-off more police and fire personnel, reduce snow removal, scale back park maintenance, and cut other core services. This would dramatically affect the quality of life we now enjoy.
Cuts are necessary, but they aren’t easy. There is nothing but difficult choices to make this session. Every cut will be severe; every choice will have a consequence. But Minnesotans and the people they elected need to understand the consequences of those decisions before these choices are made. We need ample time for public testimony, and careful attention to how each decision will affect our economy, working families, and our shared quality of life. And we need to acknowledge that we have a governor elected on a different platform.
As we face the difficult challenges ahead, I need to hear from you. Please contact me throughout the legislative session with any questions, concerns, or suggestions for legislation. As always, I look forward to hearing from you.
Kim Norton
State Representative
District 29B
(651) 296-9249
rep.kim.norton@house.mn
News Items
- 2013 Session Legislation - (Posted: Jun 7 2013 3:13PM)
- Rep. Norton Selected for MN Delegation to Germany, June 2-8 - (Posted: Jun 3 2013 1:36PM)
- Destination Medical Center Provision Heads To House Floor - (Posted: May 19 2013 12:00AM)
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