Minnesota’s economic news, w/e 1/31/20
State and local taxes and spending
Lake Superior News: How much of your gas tax comes back to Cook County?
The Globe: Column: An in-depth look at public school funding
Bemidji Pioneer: City green lights sales tax push at 2020 Legislature
Bemidji Pioneer: Bemidji is ‘financially healthy,’ but challenges ahead
Star Tribune: Minnesota lawmakers seek to limit cities’ growing use of sales taxes
KNSI: Minnesota lawmakers worry local sales taxes would be unfair
KVRR: Moorhead Looks Into Raising Sales Tax To Fund Projects
Albert Lea Tribune: Minnesota lawmakers worry local sales taxes would be unfair for retailers in state
Rochester Post Bulletin: Will short-term rental property taxes triple?
KNSI: City wants to increase sales tax
Economic development
Mankato Free Press: Our View: Workforce Immigrants, refugees key to economic growth
Twin Cities Business: TCB Q&A: Steve Grove, Minnesota’s Economic Development Czar
Agriculture
West Central Tribune: Midwest Opinion: USMCA a bright start to new year for agriculture
Labor market
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Minnesota’s job growth all but halts in 2019; who’s hiring and firing?
Brainerd Dispatch: Minnesota Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.3%
Wahepton Daily News: Minnesota’s unemployment rate holds at 3.3 percent in December
Economic growth
Alexandria Echo Press: Local economy proves resilient, but businesses struggle to fill jobs
Brainerd Dispatch: Snowfall impact on local economy sometimes positive
John Phelan is an economist at the Center of the American Experiment.