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  • City wants sign rules changed
    Sep 2, 2010 — Lake County News-Chronicle
    MnDOT allows blue directional signs on scenic byways. Gaps allow cities along scenic byways to use their own ordinances for sign control. At the time, Two Harbors was shoring up its sign rules to match state and federal guidelines but felt losing the scenic byway designation was a detriment.
  • Report
    Sep 2, 2010 — Post-Bulletin
    During that time, local governments have boosted property taxes by $1.7 billion. In Rochester, the average homeowner has seen a 9 percent inflation-adjusted increase in property taxes since 2002. He said some cities that do not rely on state aid have chosen to increase their property taxes while others that saw state aid cuts are limiting tax increases.
  • State Farm campus in Woodbury gets a buyer
    Sep 2, 2010 — Star Tribune
    Some of the excess land could be sold in portions. "We've always been intrigued by the site," said Tanya Bell, Wellington's vice president of acquisitions and development. Few so-called Class A sites -- higher-end, with nicer and newer amenities -- exist in the east-metro market outside of downtown St. Although the city hasn't taken a huge financial hit from the property sitting empty, Hargis said, "Psychologically it's a key location.
  • EDITORIAL
    Sep 1, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Paul at rush hour can't help but notice the fancier-looking motorcoaches, often operated by suburban services, moving among the workhorse Metro Transit buses. Dornfeld said the goal is "regional fairness and equity," so that Minneapolis, St. We did not know, for example, that the subsidy per passenger, per ride is $2.26 for Metro Transit and $4.03 for suburban services, based on 2008 statistics. (And that's just buses.
  • Report links steep property tax hikes in St. Paul to cuts in state aid
    Sep 1, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Paul homeowner's property taxes since 2002, the high-water mark for state aid to cities, the study found. Taxes on the average Minneapolis homestead rose 50 percent during that period. Across Minnesota, property taxes have risen 27 percent in that eight-year period, the study said. The political effect of such a move could be to parry any potential criticism of the Democrat as tax-happy.
  • Developer backs off project after neighbors voice concerns
    Aug 31, 2010 — Duluth News-Tribune
    Spirit Lake. "We're trying to create a new economic engine for West Duluth," Johnson said. Plans called for northern access to the property to be by way of the former rail corridor between Gogebic and Bessemer streets. But many local property owners were unaware of the project's specifics until after the council already had approved a sale of the property to the developers. Will Munger, owner of the Willard Munger Inn, said he wants to see the former railroad bed...
  • Developer halts plans for West Duluth rail corridor
    Aug 31, 2010 — Duluth News-Tribune
    Spirit Lake. "We're trying to create a new economic engine for West Duluth," said Johnson. Plans called for northern access to the property to be by way of the former rail corridor between Gogebic and Bessemer streets. But many local property owners were unaware of the project's specifics until after the council already had approved a sale of the property to the developers. Will Munger, owner of the Willard Munger Inn, said he wants to see the former railroad bed...
  • Red Wing officials seeking public input in budget cuts
    Aug 31, 2010 — Post-Bulletin
    Should the city re-evaluate the incinerator, which operates $500,000 in the red? The city has to set its preliminary property tax levy by Sept. 15. The nickel and diming ... we're long past that.
  • St. Paul Port Authority's ex-CFO says investors are owed
    Aug 31, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Dave Orrick Aug. 31, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The former chief financial officer of the St. Some 139 projects were financed, generating $140 million in debt sold to investors. Thirty to 40 of the projects defaulted, and in 1991 the Port Authority declared the fund insolvent.
  • Suburbs balk at new bus rules
    Aug 31, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Met Council officials say they're under federal pressure to expand their oversight of transit service in the suburbs and ensure that the system that serves St. Paul and Minneapolis isn't so different from that of Eagan or Eden Prairie. The 12 suburban communities that opted out of the Met Council's Metro Transit service and hired their own providers initially paid for operating costs through their own property taxes.
  • Stakes high in St. Paul Port Authority lawsuit
    Aug 30, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Its guarantees, Port Authority officials emphasize, stopped short of backing up the fund with the Port Authority's power to levy property taxes in St. The Port Authority disagrees. In 2006, the Port Authority tried to unload the debt from the 876 Fund once and for all. He said the Port Authority has never provided investors with a full accounting of how much money has been siphoned off over the years.
  • Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn., Chris Niskanen column
    Aug 29, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    The next governor will have a significant role in how the issue plays out, especially regarding Legacy Amendment funding. Most hunters don't think about the economics of public land.
  • Big changes at Big Marine?
    Aug 28, 2010 — Star Tribune
    A panel of officials from May Township, Scandia, Hugo, Forest Lake and the Carnelian-Marine St. Croix, a member of the Big Marine Lake Association, also said the county shouldn't develop trails until land next to them is acquired, to provide a buffer to residents. Croix home is on the southwest shore of the lake within the reserve.
  • St. Cloud school district may rent unused land
    Aug 28, 2010 — St. Cloud Times
    The property was agricultural land and had been rented to someone who was farming on the property. Joseph wants to rent the parking lot at Kennedy Elementary School. Cloud school district opened Kennedy Community School for preschool through grade eight.
  • Hennepin County to consider increase in tax levy of just 1%
    Aug 27, 2010 — Star Tribune
    If the County Board accepts the administration's recommendations when it sets the maximum levy on Sept. 7, the stage would be set for the lowest Hennepin levy increase in at least 15 years. Maximum levy means that once set it can't be raised, only lowered. Dakota County is proposing a 1 percent increase, and Carver is considering a levy reduction of 1.3 percent.
  • Preliminary numbers show enrollment at Ridgewater is up between 2.5 and 3 percent
    Aug 27, 2010 — West Central Tribune
    But enrollment is continuing to increase in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, of which Ridgewater is a part. A new program added this year is Mandarin Chinese. Study of the language has been growing in popularity. Tim Pawlenty, would have included construction of a new college entryway.
  • Emmer leads subsidy recipients
    Aug 26, 2010 — Star Tribune
    Emmer got more money than Horner because more taxpayers earmarked money for Republican Party candidates than for Independence Party candidates. Both got more money than they would have had Dayton agreed to accept public subsidies and gotten some of the checkoff money that wasn't earmarked to specific parties. The report by the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board said it distributed $3.9 million in subsidies to 365 candidates running for governor, secretary of state, auditor,...
  • Final plea, incentives can't sway Ford to preserve St. Paul plant
    Aug 26, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who led a delegation of state and local officials to the company's Dearborn, Mich., headquarters Wednesday on what might be called a last best pitch to keep the St. He noted that other auto manufacturers could be courted as well, although such a plan likely would need Ford's blessing, since the company owns the site. Ford told union officials the meeting was between Ford and Gov.
  • Candidates for governor agree that 'JOBZ' didn't work
    Aug 25, 2010 — Star Tribune
    He said he favors targeted incentives that would spur expansion of high-value manufacturing jobs in Minnesota. During the debate -- moderated by Chris Puto, dean of the University of St.
  • Controversy continues in Jackson over resource center demolition
    Aug 25, 2010 — Worthington Daily Globe
    That committee found renovating part of the building would cost about $1.3 million less than building new.
  • Delegation pitches Ford incentive
    Aug 25, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Dave Orrick and Gita Sitaramiah Aug. 25, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- ST. Coleman said today's mid-morning session is Field's response to that. Mulally has said the company is ahead of where he thought it would be in its turnaround.
  • Pawlenty, Mayor Coleman to deliver Ford plant proposal Wednesday
    Aug 25, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Dave Orrick and Gita Sitaramiah Aug. 25, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- They already said please. Coleman said today's mid-morning session is Field's response to that. Mulally has said the company is ahead of where he thought it would be in its turnaround.
  • St. Cloud school district may rent out unused land
    Aug 25, 2010 — St. Cloud Times
    The property was agricultural land and had been rented to someone who was farming property. The district might make several thousand dollars renting the property. "I like the idea. Joseph wants to rent the parking lot at Kennedy Elementary School.
  • St. Paul schools panel proposes $15M in upgrades
    Aug 25, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    Three were recommended for funding for each site.
  • Bemidji City Council to look at cuts, savings for 2011 budget
    Aug 24, 2010 — The Bemidji Pioneer
    The council did not offer a target figure. It was the council's first budget work session of the fall. There also are six live-in "dormers," who are volunteer firefighters as well. Negard's comments were not the first time the council considered such a move.
  • Candidates agree JOBZ didn't work
    Aug 24, 2010 — Star Tribune
    He said he favors targeted incentives that would spur expansion of high-value manufacturing jobs in Minnesota. During the debate -- moderated by Chris Puto, dean of the University of St.
  • City Council OKs $12.6M in bids for Civic Center
    Aug 24, 2010 — St. Cloud Times
    Cloud City Council approved Monday $12.6 million in bids for the Civic Center expansion. The bids cover most construction costs. Additional construction bids will be brought to the council in the near future. Bids came back lower than expected. A ramp was initially included in the Civic Center expansion project when it was part of the state bonding bill.
  • Freezes on hiring, capital improvements save funds for St. Cloud
    Aug 24, 2010 — St. Cloud Times
    Kari Petrie Aug. 24, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- St. Cloud police will have to wait another year for new squad cars. The decline in property tax revenue and cuts to Local Government Aid have presented a double whammy for city officials as they have worked on the proposal.
  • Heitke proposes $25.6M budget
    Aug 24, 2010 — West Central Tribune
    Heitke said it's the mayor's duty to present the budget to the committee at this time of the year. The proposed levy is up 6.9 percent or $256,059 from the 2010 levy of $3,668,705. The amount might be just enough to carry the state forward to meet its financial obligation for this year, Heitke said.
  • Independence candidate for governor Tom Horner outlines his vision for sacrifice in solving Minnesota's budget crisis
    Aug 24, 2010 — Pioneer Press
    He also would provide a low-income sales tax credit for needy individuals and families. But sales taxes would jump back up half a cent under another proposal. He called for eliminating state aid to counties. Tim Pawlenty's pet JOBZ program that provides tax breaks to businesses in economically distressed outstate areas.
  • St. Cloud shapes plan for EDA launch
    Aug 24, 2010 — St. Cloud Times
    Kari Petrie Aug. 24, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Final plans are being made for the creation of St.
  • 2 Washington County commissioners say they oppose tax increase
    Aug 21, 2010 — Star Tribune
    That would produce about $1.3 million in additional revenue for 2011, Schug told the four commissioners. Kriesel and Hegberg were re-elected last year. Since 2008, Washington County has lost $7.6 million in promised state aid that largely would have paid for mandated social services programs.
  • Candidates for Legislature square off on taxes at local forum
    Aug 21, 2010 — St. Cloud Times
    Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce forum. DFL Rep. Ellenbecker and fellow Republican candidate King Banaian expressed skepticism about state funding to expand St. Cloud. More chamber forums for local candidates are planned next month.
  • Dunham's a boost to economic development
    Aug 21, 2010 — Fergus Falls Daily Journal
    The opening is good for the mall and Fergus Falls in general." State Rep.
  • OPINION
    Aug 21, 2010 — Star Tribune
    Dayton's "tax the rich" message sounds too much like "tax successful small businesses" to win employers' hearts and minds. A positive response to Emmer, on the other hand, seemed guaranteed. The IP candidate and former public-affairs consultant is talking tax reform, not lower taxes. Horner is touting a tax option that's been under discussion for decades.
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