A Proposed Budget that Grows and Grows

​I’m scratching my head at the proposed budget targets released last week. Overall, the concerns I have with this budget and approach are twofold: first, that lawmakers plan to increase the state’s budget by 30 percent to total $71B in the next biennium(what?); second, that spending of the one-time surplus should be on one-time investments (not on new programs with tails). My conclusion? The Democrats are not handling their trifecta of control very strategically. If the desire is to maintain control moving forward, it would make sense to think of the long-term implications of this increased budget. I fear that when the economy slows (which it inevitably will), there will be a budgetary trainwreck. I also wish that lawmakers would recognize that individual proposals, whether tax increases or mandates, compound upon each other and will cause real hardships for businesses and families alike. And while the majority CAN push them through, it doesn’t mean they SHOULD. I would encourage a little more grace and restraint in leadership.
 
My thoughts: 

•  In a show of bipartisanship (and recognition that this is a real issue for seniors), why not exempt income taxes on social security? 
• We need an even greater increase in LGA to support our cities (like St. Paul) struggling to invest in much-needed infrastructure improvements. 
• We need to remove the proposed fees for home deliveries/Uber/Lyft which will be very problematic for businesses and communities alike.
• We still don’t have the full cost estimates of the proposed paid family medical leave program (with costs just to stand up the program as much as $1.7B)? Remember, this program will translate to a significant new payroll tax for all employees and employers. This includes cities, counties, and schools, which in term translates to increased local costs (and likely taxes).

 
We’ll continue to keep you updated.
 
See you in the trenches,
B