Minnesota’s economic news, w/e 12/14/18
State and local taxes
Mankato Free Press: State lawmakers won’t rush tax code rewrite
Duluth News Tribune: Minnesota forecasts $1.5-billion surplus ahead of 2019 legislative session
St. Cloud Times: What do Central Minnesotan lawmakers want to do with the $1.5 billion surplus?
Bluff County Newspaper Group: Preliminary property tax levies in county show significant increases
Minn Post: Minnesota’s budget forecast has become the inkblot test of state government
Watchdog: Tax policy activists press for Minnesota to shift course on taxing Social Security benefits
Pioneer Press: Here’s why your 2019 property tax bill is so high
KSTP: Analysis: Tax increases remain possible despite budget surplus
Mesabi Daily News: 2018 Minnesota tax returns will be bigger pain than usual
Duluth News Tribune: Reader’s View: Taxes keeping charities from being charitable
Red Wing Republican Eagle: Local lawmakers react to surplus news
The Bemidji Pioneer: Gauging the gas prices: Breaking down why northern Minnesota has prices above the state average
Star Tribune: Minnesota needs a gas tax increase, but must consider rural areas
WCCO: Experts: Filing Taxes In Minnesota Could Be More Complicated Than Usual
Kare 11: MN taxes to be ‘a headache’
Grand Forks Herald: 2019 tax season likely won’t be too messy after all. But Minnesota’s code may still need a rewrite
KEYC: Bigger Returns Expected This Tax Season
Fairmont Sentinel: Lawmakers should make tax fix their No. 1 priority
Monticello Times: Monticello Council approves 4.5 percent levy increase
Brainerd Dispatch: Brainerd Public Schools: Board approves nearly 20 percent levy increase
Rochester Post Bulletin: Rising gambling tax revenues fill US Bank Stadium’s reserves
WCCO: Pull Tab Revenue So Successful Lawmakers Plan To Drop Corporate Taxes
Winona Post: Publisher’s Post: Smothering the golden goose
Pine Journal: Residents speak out, offer ideas to lower county taxes
Sun This Week: Letter: Tax would make medications more expensive
Economic growth
Detroit Lakes Online: Building on tomorrow: Detroit Lakes sees economic boom
Hutchinson Leader: ‘The future looks bright’
Agriculture
Grand Forks Herald: Letter: Lift regulations, put US farmers first
Labor market
Star Tribune: Minnesota manufacturers worry most about long-term worker shortages
The Daily Journal: Reviewing Minnesota jobs: Coalition gives overview of vacancies
Minn Post: A warning lurks beneath state budget surplus prediction: not enough workers to go around
MPR News: Ex-cons get a deeper look from employers in tight Minnesota job market
Fox 9: Facing low recruitment, police group launches ‘Wear the Badge’ campaign
John Phelan is an economist at the Center of the American Experiment.