State and local taxes and spending Wadena Pioneer Journal: Wadena County trims preliminary 2026 tax levy to 13.28% Bemidji Pioneer: Why the Beltrami County budget includes a 42% cut to…
In December 2018, Minneapolis became the first city in the United States to eliminate single-family zoning through the Minneapolis 2040 Plan. The move attracted national attention. NBC News reported that…
Over the last few weeks, I have been looking at various data to judge how Minnesota’s economy and Minnesotans economically have fared since Gov. Walz took office in January, 2019.…
State and local taxes and spending KYMN: Northfield City Council Approves 10.2% Preliminary Tax Levy Increase Bring Me the News: Live in Hennepin County? Prepare to pay more in property…
Housing and zoning “Overly restrictive local zoning is the fundamental cause of America’s housing shortage,” according to the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. “Cities and counties have employed their…
For data center developers, Minnesota piles on the red tape Data centers, the factories of the computing age and enablers of artificial intelligence (AI), are dominating panic-stricken headlines about growing…
In our report “The State of Minnesota’s Economy: 2020: A focus on economic growth,” we wrote that: Per capita economic growth comes from three sources: an increase in the amount…
State and local taxes and spending The Ely Echo: City tax hike at 6.54 percent Sun This Week: Apple Valley levy, taxes on the rise Sun Current: Edina council adopts…
Yesterday, I noted that job growth in Minnesota was up from July to August but so was unemployment. How does that work? Jobs and unemployment up? As I’ve noted before,…
According to newly released US Census Bureau data, in 2024, 9.3 percent of Minnesotans were in poverty. This is the same rate as in 2023 and 2021. Among the 50…
Some recent headlines read: MPR News: Minnesota adds nearly 6,000 jobs but unemployment increases Star Tribune: The U.S. labor market is slowing. Minnesota, for now, is bucking the trend Kare 11: MN workforce,…
State and local taxes and spending The Ely Echo: Ely school levy uncertain KROC: Minnesota Tax Revenues Exceed Forecast by 4.2% in August CNHI News: North Mankato to set preliminary…
Yesterday, Gov. Tim Walz surprised many by announcing that he will run for an unprecedented third term in office. No doubt he believes that he will be better placed for…
Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in August, after…
Regulation Duluth News Tribune: Our View: Minnesota’s wild rice standard demands compromise Grand Forks Herald: At Iron Range hearing, miners warn of closures if wild rice rule enforced St. Cloud…
Approximately 1 in 5 workers in the U.S. needs a license to work, making it costly for individuals to enter certain occupations. This hinders income mobility, increasing inequality. It also…
State and local taxes and spending KTTC: Digging Deeper: Rochester’s state aid shortfalls lead to rising taxes Ely Echo: County tax increase coming Duluth News Tribune: St. Louis County Board…
In recent years, proponents of Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) — programs that provide direct cash payments to low-income individuals with no strings attached— have touted it as a solution to fighting…
According to a newly published study, New York City’s rent control policy likely raised unemployment by discouraging job search. Analyzing data from 2002 to 2017, the study found that rent…
Labor market MPR News: July jobs report: Minnesota economy strong but slowing as shifting federal policy creates uncertainty St. Cloud Live: Minnesota economy remains stable despite layoffs, tariffs, DEED says…
Last Friday, I commented on data released by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) which show, among other things, that “Total Nonfarm Employment” in Minnesota declined by 4,400…
Trade Star Tribune: The last bite: Tariffs, economy and beans are hot topics at Minnesota Farmfest Economic growth WCCO: Is the Twin Cities restaurant scene in crisis? KFGO: Farm and…
Data released yesterday by the Department of Employment and Economic Development show that “Total Nonfarm Employment” in Minnesota declined by 4,400 from June to July. This is the largest decline…
Yesterday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in July, after rising 0.3…