May 2008 - High school sports: an uncertain future - A three-part series on athletic funding problems faced by several Minnesota high schools, Star Tribune.
May 13, 2008 - Make your voice heard - Do you have a reaction to the second of our three-part series on the funding challenges facing high school sports? Perhaps a story to tell or a message to deliver? Please send an e-mail to John Millea at jmillea@startribune.com. Include your name and city of residence for possible publication. Thank you, Star Tribune Prep Staff.
Close the Gap
Vanishing Graduates & Minnesota's Future Aired Sunday, May 11, Twin Cities Public Television Fewer students graduating could create a crisis for Minnesota, unless more students choose to attend college.
When you have to have fundraisers in my seventh grader's class for chemistry supplies, that's craziness. To think about we're living in Minnesota. We're living in a state that values engineering, high tech, STEM, or we keep saying those things, and then here we are selling cookies to get enough materials in chemistry classes. That breaks my heart.
—Renae Oswald-Anderson
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A collaboration of TPT and the Itasca Project to air on the Minnesota Channel in April. Watch for more to come.
February 15, 2008 - School Busing History - Historic efforts in Minneapolis in the 1970s to desegregate schools.
Related Resources
Economic Mobility - The American Dream - the belief that one can rise up from humble beginnings and achieve a comfortable middle-class living, if not attain great wealth, transcends racial lines - but new data from the Pew Charitable Trust's Economic Mobility Project shows the American Dream is not equally accessible to all, St. Paul NEAT.
May 6, 2008 - Tough Decisions in the 2008 Legislative Session leave even tougher choices for 2009 - Minnesota Budget Project Analysis of Governor, Senate and House 2008 Budget Balancing Proposals - The Governor proposes a small cut of $2.4 million in total general fund expenditures for K-12 education. The House proposal would increase total funding for K-12 education. The Senate proposal would slightly decrease overall funding for K-12 education, hides some significant changes within the budget. Read the Full Issue Brief. It's important.
April 15, 2008 - Tax Protest Puts “Me” Over “We” [CAUTION: Large File] - If you consider yourself middle class, then you probably have a right to be upset about taxes. When you include all local, state and federal taxes, you pay a higher proportion of your income in taxes than those who make more than $400,000 a year. And those who are poor pay a rate nearly twice as high as the rich, The UpTake.
April 8, 2008 - 2008 Capital Budget Comparison - Compares Governor’s original bonding request to House and Senate bonding bills, House Fiscal Analysis.
April 2, 2008 - Comparison of Targets for Governor, House and Senate (FY 2008-09) - All three proposals rely heavily on using one time funds to solve the deficit in this biennium. Without additional revenues, legislators are likely to face even tougher budget cutting decisions when they come back next January to set the budget for the FY 2010-11 biennium, Minnesota Budget Project.
February 28, 2008 - Enough is enough: It’s time to start acting beyond the current crisis - St. Paul, MN – The February Forecast to be released this morning is expected to show the State of Minnesota’s projected budget deficit has grown significantly since last fall. It was only last February, however, that we were reportedly enjoying a large surplus, Minnesota Budget Project.
February 28, 2008 - Budget Deficit Nearly $1 billion, Minnesota has a Revenue Problem - Relying almost exclusively on spending cuts to balance past state budget deficits has taken a toll on the state. Current per pupil spending in Minnesota has fallen below the national average, with the consequence of increased class sizes and fewer course offerings. At the same time that school revenue declines, school property taxes increase, Minnesota 2020.
February 28, 2008 - Press Conference Audio - Governor Pawlenty's press conference to discuss the February forecast.
February 28, 2008 - February Forecast Released - $935 Million Deficit Forecast for 2008-09 Biennium, Minnesota Department of Finance.
February 10, 2008 - Sticker Shock: Why Property Taxes are Going Through the Roof in Minnesota - The average property tax on a Minnesota homestead is expected to increase by 71 percent from 2002 to 2008. Growth in homestead property taxes from 2002 to 2008 cannot be attributed to growth in local government revenue. Total statewide real per capita county and city/town revenue and real per pupil school revenue have all fallen over this six year period, Minnesota 2020 (Release).
February 2008 - Preliminary Report - State budget criteria developed to assess Minnesota’s revenue and spending systems while identifying key issues that have and will cause budget instability and prepare recommendations. Final written report due January 15, 2009, State Budget Trends Study Commission.
January 29, 2008 - Stormy Weather Ahead? - Presentation materials from legislative budget forecast briefing with State Economist Tom Stinson, Minnesota Budget Project.
January 2008 - FAQ on Tax Rankings & Minnesota - An overview of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Minnesota's tax rankings, Minnesota House Fiscal Analysis.
January 10, 2008 - Schools Suffer Five Years of Financial Drought - New research proves what educators already know: The state is financially starving Minnesota schools. Revenue for Minnesota public schools has dropped 4.4 percent since 2003. While state support for schools has dropped precipitously, attempts to make up the difference by increasing property taxes have come up short, Minnesota 2020 (Local Impacts).
January 9, 2008 - Government Revenues Decline - But "no new tax" state leadership doesn’t deserve the credit, Minnesota 2020.
October 2007 - An Overview of State Government Spending - Dramatically understates the decline in school revenues since the state takeover in 2003 (page 7). Had the Department of Finance used the IPD inflation index as recommended by the Minnesota Council of Economic Advisors, the FY 2003 amount in constant 2006 dollars would have been $8,987, revealing a decline of $668 or 7.4% from FY 2003 to FY 2006, Minnesota Department of Finance (K-12 Education only).
FROM THE ARCHIVES
August 15, 2006 - Toward a more competitive state Jay Kiedrowski and John Gunyou, Star Tribune Commentary Rather than just debate taxes in Minnesota, let's focus on where and how those resources are being invested.
