State and local taxes and spending WCCO: St. Paul voters to weigh in on sales tax increase to fix roads Kare 11: St. Paul voters weigh sales tax for roads,…
Despite the constant reassurances from local media and elected officials, activity in the inner core of the state’s largest city is not returning to pre-pandemic levels. We were told in…
State and local taxes and spending Willmar Radio: Stearns County voters will be asked to approve local option sales tax for new jail Star Tribune: Minn. legislators say they’ve expanded…
A core argument of advocates for higher legal minimum wages is that the increase in the price of labor which they propose will not to lead to a fall in…
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2022, about 44 percent of all workers aged 25 and over had a bachelor’s degree or higher. But in…
It is no coincidence that it was a Minnesotan, Sinclair Lewis, who popularized the word “Boosterism” in his 1922 novel Babbitt. As I’ve noted before, much of the state’s media is constantly…
State and local taxes and spending KNSI: Minnesota’s budget surplus grows to a projected $2.4 billion, fueling debate over spending Kare 11: Minnesota budget surplus estimate tops $2 billion Rochester…
On October 18, the St. Paul City Council approved a major overhaul of the city’s zoning code, effectively ending single-family zoning in St. Paul. Specifically, zoning changes will consolidate the…
In December last year, I wrote about newly released Census Bureau data which showed that, on net, Minnesota lost more residents to other parts of the United States in 2021-2022…
State and local taxes and spending Spokesman-Recorder: New sales tax increase funds transportation, housing Rochester Post Bulletin: Letter: Rochester, RPS referenda are excessive tax asks Rochester Post Bulletin: Letter: Benefits…
This week I’ve been writing about a recent report by labor market analytics firm Lightcast titled “Minnesota’s Vanishing Workforce.” It is worth reading and echoes our 2019 report, “Minnesota’s Workforce…
On Monday, writing about Minnesota’s supposed labor shortage, I noted that our state’s birthrate has held up relatively well. On Tuesday, I wrote about how data show that Minnesota’s employment has…
Yesterday, writing about Minnesota’s supposed labor shortage, I noted that our state’s birthrate has held up relatively well. But, as a recent report by labor market analytics firm Lightcast titled…
Last week, I wrote about how Minnesota is one of 13 states which still haven’t regained their pre-COVID-19 employment numbers. This is in the context of ongoing concerns about a…
State and local taxes and spending Albert Lea Tribune: Senate Report: Government must be more thoughtful when spending the people’s money Star Tribune: St. Paul’s sales tax: Minnesota Miracle 2.0?…
In June, I wrote that robots are one way to ease Minnesota’s labor shortage. An example comes from across the border in Wisconsin. Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology…
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its numbers for inflation in September today: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4 percent in September on a seasonally adjusted…
Minnesota’s media will often celebrate data showing that the state has added a particular number of jobs over a given month. What they are less likely to report is that…
State and local taxes and spending WCCO: Twin Cities metro shoppers will see 1% sales tax increase Sunday NFIB: Coming Sunday: Metro Sales Tax Hike Takes Effect, Will Cost Minnesota Consumers, Small…
Data shows more people are walking away from Minnesota — or aren’t coming here at all.
Minnesota loses a big opportunity for investment due to an anti-business environment.
State and local taxes and spending Pioneer Press: St. Paul schedules sessions on sales tax increase for road and park projects KRFO: Minnesota continues to collect more than expected in…
Another day, another ranking of the states. On Wednesday, Gov. Walz tweeted: This was in response to a “study” — a word increasingly bereft of meaning since it is applied…
John Phelan joined Jon Justice this morning to chat about how Minnesota’s left lives in a fantasy land, discuss the recent shift in population growth from rural to urban areas,…