Wringing Out Every Last Cent

Podcast Audio: https://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-295-wringing-out-every-last-cent

YouTube: https://youtu.be/daSrX9IGkwc

Our fantastic legislature passed a 1% increase in the sales tax this year that just took effect. This pushes Minneapolis’ sales tax up over 9% and St. Paul is almost at 10%! Of course, the DFL wants to claim that this increase is “for the kids”, yet the kids never seem to be any better off. Our taxes keep going up, and it’s getting harder to keep up with the increases. Part of this money is set aside for “affordable housing” and the rest is for transportation. They want to build affordable homes, rental units, and provide rental assistance. It’s part of the $0.50 tax on deliveries and pegs the gas tax to inflation.

As if that wasn’t enough, Golden Valley wants to go over and above that to implement another 1.25% sales tax (along with further bonding) to go toward public buildings because they haven’t saved a single red cent. If the sales tax isn’t approved by voters, Golden Valley says they will find another way to make you pay it. The cost for these projects is $190 million over 30 years, but inflation will push that number. Just for a comparison, Hudson, WI has a 5.5% sales tax. Pretty sweet, huh?

We also discuss the removal of (former) Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy. There’s a lot of ideas going around regarding who should be next. We set the Republicans straight.

Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!

Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

When The Rubber Hits The Road

Andrew is back in the secret bunker this week and we spill the beans on his absence. Pause the podcast and enter your guess before we tell you!

There are going to be a number of impacts the city, county, and school governments because of the downturn in the economy. Tax collections in this state were $62 million short this year. The revenue collected from the state gas tax is going to come in way below normal as well. Government is still having to shell out for salaries, benefits, and pensions. Many non-essential municipal employees aren’t getting furloughed. Schools are shut down for the rest of the year and may not reopen in the fall. That’s a huge impact on parents. How will these entities make up the difference? Cities may turn to hidden taxes like assessments, fees, bonds, and the like to make up the difference. They may beg for Federal help. Are there any solutions? Yes, but it may hurt a little to set us upon good footing and eliminate all of this debt we’ve wracked up.

We also discuss Governor Walz’s most recent press conference. He’s got great news!!! Is it a reopening of the economy? Are we free to exercise our religion again? No!!! We’ve got a plan to test more people! Now we’re cooking with gas!

Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!

Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

Podcast audio: http://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-158-when-the-rubber-hits-the-road-0

YouTube: https://youtu.be/qyZChDf7h0g

We’re Borrowing Trouble

Have you ever wondered how all of these local politicians can call themselves “fiscal conservatives”? They may hold the line on the annual tax levy, but they are willing to rack up debt for all of these “wonderful” projects. They go into debt, because you won’t see all of their spending on your annual property tax statement. You have to go near the end of the lengthy Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) to find where they bury all of this spending. We discuss the difference between a general obligation bond and a lease revenue bond, and how they work. We look into the atrocious debt levels of Maple Grove, Three Rivers Park District, Grand Rapids, Burnsville, and more. We show you how and where to find the tens of millions of dollars that they all seem to be in debt. What if there is an economic downturn? It is time for a culture change in how we approach debt.

In the Local Lowdown, residents are up in arms because the Rochester City Council wants to give Elton Hills Drive a “road diet” (making a four lane road two lanes with a center turn lane) to make a complete street. It’s not just for urban areas anymore.

Also, we discuss Michael Bloomberg jumping into the presidential race as Kamala Harris is jumping out. We tell you what we think it all means.

Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!

Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

Podcast audio: http://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-142-were-borrowing-trouble

YouTube: https://youtu.be/-XZcsYUuKGo

Is It Really For The Kids?

Public Schools have been beating the drum for a long time, saying that with just a little more money, they can do great things. Leaders in ISD 728 (Zimmerman, Rogers, Elk River) are trying to pass an $110,000,000/10yr operating levy and another referendum to float bonds for a new middle school and other nebulous building projects. Parent-turned-activist, Anne Kostrzewski, has started a Facebook page: Concerned Parents and Taxpayers of ISD 728. She wants to get community members interested and involved in what the school board is trying to fund. The district is pushing a concept called social/emotional learning. They sent out a survey to students earlier in the year that asked about 26 genders, sexuality, drugs, etc… They push equity issues that promote inequality. Yet, the district gets to promote their referendum all over the place without any opposing view points. It’s high time parent’s ask questions about whether what the school is proposing is really “for the kids” at all.

We also discuss the recent actions of the City of Philadelphia, that chose to fly the communist Chinese flag in front of city hall in the name of diversity. What? So diversity is supporting a communist government over a group of people they are oppressing? A country that has murdered over 60 million of it’s own people gets coddled, all because of the almighty dollar? What a strange world we live in.

Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!

Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

Podcast audio: http://commsolutionsmn.libsyn.com/episode-133-is-it-really-for-the-kids

YouTube: https://youtu.be/nxwsESo8OZA

A Debt Free City?

Cities love to discuss how to bring in revenue to pay for all of their spending. They almost can’t wait to raise taxes, implement new taxes, raise fees, or write new bonds. Should we be throwing a party while spending other people’s money? Should government celebrate all of the “great” projects that get implemented on the backs of the people they serve? We, here at Community Solutions MN, don’t agree. Spending other’s money is a somber responsibility. It should be handled with the greatest amount of care and reverence. Unfortunately, that is almost never the case. Every city, county, and school seem to have the same approach. How did former Crystal Councilman Mark Hoffman put it? We can tax residents to cover our butts whenever we want to? It’s disgusting that they believe they have first rights to our money.

Enter Mayor Jim Adams. Under his leadership, the city of Crystal has walked a road of innovation and reform. We’ve written all about removing the point of sale inspections, the city code task force, and paying for a much needed public works building all in cash. And it’s that last point that we want to dig deeper into this week. We invite Mayor Adams back on the show to discuss his goals to make Crystal a debt-free city. This is a bold plan that some would say is impossible. If he can accomplish this task, he will have been successful in eliminating most hidden taxes and saving the taxpayers of Crystal tens of millions of dollars over the long term. Listen to Mayor Adam’s plans and then try to get your city, county, and school district to rethink how they spend your money.

We also take a deeper look at how those mysterious write-in votes work.

Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast“! You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!

Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify, or go out to the PodBabble Podcast Network!