Watch Dayton address the full Minnesota Legislature Wednesday
See what was said Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, as Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton delivers his State of the State Address to a joint session of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate. Video via The UpTake and the Minnesota House of Representatives.
More than 100 reader comments have been made since governor's plan unveiled last week.
When Gov. Mark Dayton last week unveiled a proposed state budget and tax plan that would, among other things, lower Minnesota's sales tax from 6.875 percent to 5.5 percent, the plan sparked a vigorous debate among Patch readers. Patch has had more than 100 reader comments on our story that asked people to take our poll, then share their thoughts on Dayton's tax and budget plan. Here's a sampling of some of the comments: George P. Burdell: A simplistic response to this comment would then be; Democrats want to clean out our wallets and institute socialisim... which really worked well for the USSR...hmmm. Brad Koehn: I'll be curious to see if Minnesotans spend enough on clothing worth more than $100 to bring in $2B in revenue. I'm a bit …
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With so many challenges on the table, Patch wants to know what issues you think are most important.
With so many challenges on the table, Patch wants to know what issues you think are most important.
With another legislative session just around the corner, senators and representatives have no shortage of challenges ahead of them. Lawmakers plan to convene hearings on gun control in the wake of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. They’ll review a recommendation from a governor-appointed task force to increase gas taxes and tab fees in response to a projected $50 billion shortfall in transportation funding. The DFL majority and defeat of the marriage amendment in the 2012 election could even prompt the Legislature to take up the issue of gay marriage. And looming over everything is a projected $1.1 billion deficit that legislators will have to close before adjourning for the year. With so many issues on the …
7:25 am on Monday, March 18, 2013
I am ALMOST for it...jsut get rid of the duplicate friggin systems we have!!!! we dont need a dozen agencies doing the SAME thing!!! too much overhead!!! ---that and ANY .gov program is doomed to massive overruns and mismanagement. more ›
The School Board recently approved a levy for the upcoming year, which represents a 3.85 percent decrease from 2012 collections.
Taxes for residents of the St. Louis Park School District are going to dip a bit in 2013, based on a levy recently approved by the school board. The Sun Sailor reports the district's operating referendum will increase by 2.55 percent as a result of increasing enrollment at the district, while overall property taxes will decline by 3.85 percent. That decrease is thanks to reductions in the district's health and safety levy, debt service levy and other changes. The SLP School Board approved the $21.9 million levy for taxes payable in 2013 following a Truth in Taxation hearing earlier this month. That number is down from $22.8 million in 2012. Read the rest of the story on the Sun Sailor's website. Like St. Louis Park Patch on Facebook | …
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney duked it out in Denver, CO.
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney duked it out tonight in their first presidential debate in Denver, Colorado. Patch live-blogged the debate, which featured the candidates touching on domestic issues like health care, PBS funding, and America's energy sources. You can watch the entire debate on YouTube Politics. Some of the points that resonated with our live-blog panelists were split on who came out on top: Here's a sampling of responses on Twitter:
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11:30 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
A couple of points. 1) Almost every incumbent President has lost the first debate since they have been televised, the only exception was Bill Clinton. 2) I remember in 2008 watching folks talk about how Obama lost debates to Hillary Clinton and how he lost debates to John McCain and yet he was the guy who took the oath of office at the end. I don't know if he will be re-elected, but, so far there… more ›
Final approval of the tax levy will come in December.
The St. Louis Park City Council on Tuesday approved a preliminary 2013 tax levy that council members hope will help pay off debt on the city's new fire stations and allow for future growth. The figure approved by a 6-0 vote is $24,712,941, which is about a 4 percent increase from what was levied this year. Council won't set the final number until December, and it can lower—but not increase—the levy between now and then. City staff recommended an increase in part to help pay down debt, particularly on the two new fire stations that opened this year for $15 million. The city is slated to pay $2 million toward debt services next year. The tax levy also jumped about 4 percent between last year and this year, as again the city paid down $2 …
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St. Louis Park's levy is going up by roughly 5 percent.
St. Louis Park City Council on Monday approved a tax levy that is roughly 5 percent larger than last year's, a move that will help pay off bonds on the city's two new fire stations. The increase will put the city's 2012 levy at $23.8 million. It will also bring with it an expected $9 bump in yearly city property taxes for an owner of a typical St. Louis Park home, with a value near $220,000. Those with more valuable homes are expected to see bigger tax increases. A $500,000 home, for example, is expected to see $84 more in city taxes in 2012. (For a complete breakdown of how the new levy will impact particular homeowners, see the attached chart at right and look at the "dollar change" column) Last week, the school board approved a levy …
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Crunch time is here, as the April 18 tax deadline is a little more than two weeks away.
Local accountants' fingers are calloused from punching and crunching numbers by this time of year. From large chains such as H&R Block to in-home offices, tax experts are busy preparing the government forms for thousands of St. Louis Park residents. Correction: This article originally listed the tax deadline date as April 15. It has been changed to the correct date—April 18. St. Louis Park Patch regrets the error.
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1:06 pm on Thursday, March 31, 2011
Thanks for the heads-up, CM. I'm so used to it being April 15, I didn't even look it up. The pushed back deadline is due to the observation of Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C. more ›
Also Monday, the City Council created a new 3 percent lodging tax, which will fund a St. Louis Park visitors bureau.
The following is a short recap of the City Council meeting held Monday. Check St. Louis Park Patch for updates on these stories. City sets tax levy The City of St. Louis Park approved a 2011 tax levy that is 4 percent higher than last year. Five council members supported the levy, but councilman Phil Finkelstein opposed, saying taxes on residents would be too high as a result. The councilman instead supported a 2.95 levy increase, as he had in recent weeks. For a more detailed analysis of what a levy is and how it affects you, see this St. Louis Park Patch story. Additionally, council approved a 2.25 percent wage increase for non-union city employees, which will go into effect on Dec. 31. The increased wages will then stay in place through…
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5:00 pm on Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Guess we have to pay for the New Fire Stations some how, other cities are holding levys down but not Saint Louis Park. more ›
Daryl Fryxell
6:12 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
Hey, Mr. Dayton, remember during the so-called "shut down" you declared essential and non-essential functions and employees? Just cancel all non-essential services today. You told us they were non-essential. It wasn't my call. Since you deem them non-essential, just cut them all. You'd be a hero because you could cut everyone's taxes, too. Oh, but you're too stupid and beholden to the government … more ›