State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: Ramstad: The next year is going to be tough for Minnesota governments and politics Minn Post: Minnesota has over $5 billion it…
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…
The West Central Tribune reported today that an administrative law judge recommends the approval of a proposed 200-MW capacity solar installation in Renville county. The project, Gopher State Solar, would…
The West Central Tribune reported last week that a large solar farm proposed in Renville County is expected to be permitted by the end of the summer. The project, Gopher…
What do you do with 290,000 solar panels spread out over 1,000 acres when it comes time to tear them down? The developer’s plan for the proposed $245 million Birch…
After three years, the Kandiyohi County commissioners have nearly $300,000 in federal pandemic funding still on hand burning a hole in their pocket. Just one problem. They need to come…
The radical and unrealistic 2040 deadline for utilities to meet Minnesota’s mandate for 100 percent of electricity to be generated from carbon-free sources remains 15 years away. But alarm bells…
Southwestern Minnesota farmers and residents left no doubt about their objections to Xcel Energy’s proposed billion dollar power line for renewable energy at a recent hearing before an administrative law…
The state’s mandate to develop ever more wind energy to offset the loss of traditional power plants shut down by climate change zealots has fueled resentment among some residents of…
After years of struggling to keep two chronically unreliable wind turbines up and running, Willmar Municipal Utilities finally plans to pull the plug on them, five years sooner than projected…
State and local taxes and spending The Ely Echo: St. Louis County Board considers property tax hike Duluth News Tribune: Our View: Taxpaying Duluthians can appreciate the ‘breather’ Caledonia Argus:…
Economic growth WCCO: Minnesota is ranked 6th in the nation for business, a new study finds Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Minnesota ranks No. 6 among ‘America’s Top States for Business’…
The on-again, but reliably off-again wind turbines operated by Willmar Municipal Utilities appear to be headed for the scrap heap, five years sooner than expected upon installation in 2009. For…
Regulation KSTP: City of St. Paul increases minimum wage for small businesses NFIB: Start Preparing for Inclusive Pricing Mandate in Minnesota State and local taxes and spending West Central Tribune:…
The problem The West Central Tribune reports: Chippewa County will be joining the growing ranks of counties imposing a wheelage tax on vehicles to help fund road and bridge needs.…
The so-called North Star Act would prohibit cooperation on the part of local, county and state law enforcement agencies with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. American Experiment’s latest Thinking…
When the federal or state government swoops in to acquire land for wildlife refuges and other purposes, they’re supposed to reimburse counties for revenue lost as a result of removing…
American Experiment has highlighted the opposition of landowners and local elected officials to Xcel Energy’s proposed 175-mile high voltage line running from near Marshall in southwestern Minnesota to Becker in…
They may be virtually powerless to stop Xcel Energy from forcing another high-voltage transmission line through their area, but that hasn’t stopped landowners from Marshall to Becker from trying to…
A new state law passed by the DFL-controlled legislature in 2023 bans the use of Indian mascots and logos, unless schools receive a unanimous exemption from all of Minnesota’s tribal…
State and local taxes and spending Washington Examiner: Minnesota’s Democratic governor trashes Biden administration for taxing rebate checks West Central Tribune: Kandiyohi County tax levy increases by 4.9% in 2024,…
COVID-19 continues to be the gift that keeps on giving for local governments. Nearly half of the $350 billion allotted to cities, counties and states for COVID-related spending under the…
Apparently the doubling in cost of a proposed 175-mile long high voltage power line in southwestern Minnesota to more than $1 billion hasn’t slowed down Xcel’s determination to connect more…
The Department of Natural Resources never sought public input before the controversial transfer of the historic Upper Sioux Agency State Park to the Upper Sioux Community was essentially a done…