Minnesota’s Economic News — W/E 12/17/21

State and local taxes and spending

The Globe: Nobles County works to reduce tax burden; eyes 4.988% property tax levy increase

Duluth News Tribune: Feeding frenzy follows news of state budget surplus

Star Tribune: How to handle a massive surplus

Star Tribune: Minnesota employers fear tax hikes to cover unemployment benefit debt

KTOE: Influential lawmaker pushing to totally eliminate MN income tax on Social Security benefits

Fergus Falls Daily Journal: MN forecasted for budget surplus

Pioneer Press: Paid parental and sick leave for all? How would that work?

Minn Post: Minnesota’s $7.7 billion budget surplus is big. But it’s not unique

KFGO: State senator pushing to eliminate MN income tax on Social Security benefits

Pilot-Independent: ‘Let’s give Minnesotans their money back’ Sen. Eichorn says

Waseca County News: County adopts 1.92% levy increase; residential property taxes to increase by more

Crookston Times: Minnesota Management and Budget projects $7.7 billion surplus for 2022-23 fiscal year

Hastings Star Gazette: Dakota County keeps property tax levy flat for 2022

KIMT: Property tax going up in 2022 Olmsted County budget

Twin Cities Business: Minnesota’s $7.7B Surplus: Big, But Not Unique

The Center Square: Kiplinger’s: Minnesota has ‘very ordinary overall state and local tax burden’

Marshall Independent: Marshall Council approves 4.3% levy increase

Alexandria Echo Press: Commentary: Key decisions on tap amid vast state surplus

Labor market

Star Tribune: Minnesota employees likely to see more pay raises in next year

Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Minnesota unemployment rate continues to drop, but labor force concerns grow

Duluth News Tribune: Minnesota job growth outpaces US, unemployment at 3.3%

Star Tribune: Inflation outpaced wage growth in Minnesota last month; jobless rate hit pre-pandemic level

MPR News: Jobless rate in Minn. hits pre-pandemic level

Mankato Free Press: Local job numbers up 2.8% with manufacturing up 4%

Twin Cities Business: Minnesota Unemployment Rate Fell in November

Fox 9: Minnesota jobless rate falls to 3.3%, lowest since pre-pandemic

Economic growth

Mankato Free Press: 2021 highlights local economic strength

The Minnesota Daily: Craft breweries call for changes to liquor laws after COVID-19 hardships

Economic development

Pioneer Press: Minnesota will have to chip in 20 cents on the dollar for federal infrastructure grants

Minn Post: ‘We have work to do’: What to know about the state of the state’s high-speed internet infrastructure