Hello from St. Paul,
On January 26, Governor Walz unveiled his budget proposal for the 2021-2022 biennium. While this marks a beginning for budget discussions, I did not agree with a number of the governor’s budget priorities, including numerous tax increases.
I have heard from local small business owners who have emptied their savings and retirement accounts, mortgaged their homes and maxed out credit cards just to keep their doors open during this pandemic. These are people who were forced to do more with less thanks to barriers put forward through the Governor’s COVID-19 related executive orders. If businesses can tighten their belts during these unprecedented times, so can state government.
Minnesota is currently projected to face a $1.2 billion deficit according to the November forecast, but that number will be updated in late February.
Governor Walz’ $1.7 billion tax increase plan includes a 15% hike to Minnesota's business tax and a 10% income tax hike to Minnesota's top tax bracket. If implemented, this would make Minnesota the state with the 2nd highest business tax in the country and the 3rd highest income tax rate.
As for spending reductions in his more than $52 billion budget, Governor Walz has proposed $150 million in cuts, or .3%
The governor’s budget serves as a good starting point, and now the House and Senate will work through its budget proposals and hopefully work out an agreement.
SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK
National School Choice Week was established to promote all forms of school choice, including public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, parochial schools and home-schools.
The goal is not to promote one educational choice, but to recognize that parents should have the choice to select the best mode of schooling for their children based on the way their kids learn, not to mention the social and emotional needs they may have. One-size-fits-all rarely works in any setting and education is no different.
As a child I had the best of both worlds, attending a parochial school in my younger years and public school in junior and senior high. My two daughters had a similar experience, attending St. Elizabeth Ann Seton school then Hastings High School. Having the choice worked for our family.
If we want every child to succeed in life, we need to allow parents to choose the educational system that will work best for them.
As always, a big thank you to those who are teaching our kids in all school settings and at home during this difficult year and helping make our kids successful.
Have a good weekend,
Tony