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Contact Phone
612-289-8021
I'm running because I have a deep background as a retired news reporter in the intricacies of state, metro, county and school finances, and especially those of the city and its Park Board. I've read city and park budgets from cover to cover, even before I thought about running for a seat, and I've posed hundreds of questions to make sure I grasp their details. I was encouraged to run by my predecessors on the board. I ran because I felt that I could interpret nuanced data to make decisions that balance the needs of the city against the ability of taxpayers to pay.
1) My top priority is to use the influence of my office to encourage city officials to develop a legislative proposal that seeks to diversify the city's revenues so we're not so reliant on the property tax to balance each year's budget. The council has authorized study of some of these ideas and I'd like to help the city to make the case to the Legislature.
2) I will work to maintain the board as an independent check on the setting of the property tax rate and the issuance of debt. I successfully worked to restore the board's sole staff position--after a five-year gap--to assist us in this independent analysis, and provide us institutional memory as the board's membership evolves. I will work to guard that independent analysis.
I support a careful review of city spending to ensure that city finances are used wisely. Ideally, this would evolve into program-based city budgeting that reviews the efficacy of each part of the city enterprise in achieving intended outcomes. An outside look at city finances, such as the budget and levy review recently conducted by a group of St. Paul citizens, could also help to give residents and businesses confidence that any new sources of revenue granted by the Legislature would be used wisely.
A first challenge is the substantial reliance by the city on the property tax to balance its budget, which poses hardship for residential taxpayers and those who pay taxes through their rents when the downtown commercial tax base shrinks. I'm already working to push the council toward seeking legislative authority to diversify the city's income sources.
A second challenge will be for the city to weather the downtown tax base shrinkage without unduly burdening residential and rental taxpayers. I believe that it will take five to seven years for the city to recover from the effects of the pandemic, which undercut property values. We need to maximize our sales and special tax collections to subsidize the General Fund.
I will consider these factors before voting on a proposed levy: how many people will see their taxes go up or down and by how much; the purposes of the proposed increase; growth in the tax base; the economic health of the city and its residents; how much the School Board and the Hennepin County Board are asking for their shares of a resident’s tax bill; and what bond-rating agencies are saying about city finances.
telephone
6129226992
Contact Phone
6125328042
Commissioner, Board of Estimate & Taxation; 16 years: served as President twice;
degree in Mathematics, University of Minnesota;
Commissioner, Minneapolis Civil Rights Commissioner, 23 years;
Minneapolis Park Commissioner, 16 years, including serving as President;
Numerous other Boards & Commissions including Minneapolis Children's Theatre, Minneapolis institute of Arts and Minneapolis Zoning Board.
With my unique background into financial issues with the city, the adequate review of city long term plans and budgets; taking the best approach to considering alternativesand methods to save city dollars.
It is important to consider government funding needs with maintaining affordability for its residents and businesses. There are proposals to enact a City Income Tax, which requires State legislative approval. How it is implemented and the ultimate effect on the financial health of the city make it questionable and for which I cannot support. What should be considered is the fact that over 25 years ago, Minneapolis received $125,000,000 in Local Government Aid for the City. We should advocate a return, when it is now in the area of $83,000,000. Our City contributes far more to the state's general fund than it receives in Aid.
Besides those mentioned, there is the financial situation where revenues are hurt especially with the economic situation and challenges in downtown, as well as economic modes such as uptown. How the city examines the budget, and sets the tax rate is a result of careful long term planning. This Board has a major effect on the city's financial health and careful review is necessary. The other function of this Board is approval of general obligation bond financing, which is important to review,
The most important principles are what makes economic sense and how it affects the citizens/taxpayers. It is important to note that this must be weighed with future viability in the city. What should be looked at carefully is keeping city expenses down and reducing budgets.
