Minnesota’s Economic News – W/E 4/9/21
State and local taxes and spending
Grand Rapids Herald Review: Here Is How Much People Pay in Taxes in Minnesota
Marshall Independent: Daudt hopeful for more tax breaks
Inforum: Area Minnesota cities maintain healthy budget balances despite pandemic
Mankato Free Press: Throw out harmful vape tax bill
Star Tribune: Minnesota House Democrats join Walz in push for tax increase on wealthy
The Center Square: Minnesota GOP, DFL spar over proposed tax hikes
Pioneer Press: Minnesota House Democrats detail budget bills focused on education, pandemic relief
Winona Daily News: Miller introduces bill to fully exempt Social Security from state income taxes
Austin Daily Herald: Minnesota lawmakers ready to tackle budget
KROC: Minnesotans Will See Expanded Tax Credits Through MNsure
Finance & Commerce: Bill would extend historic tax credit
KFGO: Republicans oppose gas tax increase in Minnesota House transportation bill
Detroit Lakes Online: Should Minnesota phase-out property taxes? A proposal by Sen. Kent Eken would do just that
Hutchinson Leader: Commentary: Cut corporate taxes to boost entrepreneurship
Bloomberg Tax: Minnesota Landowners Wrongly Taxed by Nearby Drainage Area
The Globe: Letter: Extend Minnesota’s Historic Tax Credit
KTOE: Gas Tax Debate Fuels Up Again
Willmar Radio: DFL proposes gas tax increase
Grand Forks Herald: Minnesota panel green-lights 5-cent gas tax hike for road, bridge repairs
MPR News: House roads plan includes higher gas tax
Fergus Falls Journal: Tax increases are unnecessary, especially amid vast state surplus
Mankato Free Press: Vape tax would protect more children
Sun Current: Sen. Franzen introduces local option sales tax bill
Economic growth
Park Rapids Enterprise: Hubbard County cities keep pace with statewide growth trend
Star Tribune: Survey: strong economic growth continues in the region
WCCO: As More Are Vaccinated, Restaurants Replacing ‘Closed’ Signs With ‘Now Hiring’
WXOW: Tourism rates fall but outdoor recreation sees massive increase over the last year
Star Tribune: Minnesota breweries drained by pandemic as on-site sales dried up
KSTP: Pandemic dropped Minnesota brewery sales by 18%, U of M survey shows
Twin Cities Business: Minnesota Craft Breweries’ Sales Dipped 18 Percent in 2020
Bring Me the News: Minnesota breweries saw sales, revenue drop in 2020
Twin Cities Business: Minnesota Retail Sales Gains Lag U.S. Average
KSTP: Pandemic dropped Minnesota brewery sales by 18%, U of M survey shows
KDAL: Essentia Project Stimulates Regional Economy
Labor market
Wahepton Daily News: MN unemployment rate continues to drop
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Job recovery coming for communities of color this year, but trailing state overall, forecast says
Star Tribune: St. Cloud area sees ‘jaw-droppingly large’ decline in labor force during pandemic
Grand Rapids Herald Review: Youth, unemployed can match with employers through virtual job fair
Economic development
Star Tribune: ‘So far behind’: Minnesotans eye federal infrastructure bill for languishing projects
Albert Lea Tribune: Editorial Roundup: Immigrants boost the state of Minn.’s economy
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Immigrant entrepreneurship in Minnesota lags the rest of the nation, new report says
Mankato Free Press: Our View: State needs immigrants to succeed
Minn Post: How Minnesota became an international center of food manufacturing and research
Business North: Broadband roundtable: Internet access and speed are key to economic growth, business vitality, health and education
John Phelan is an economist at the Center of the American Experiment.