Estate Tax Increases Fairness

by | Jan 17, 2017

The one tax that conservatives seem to hate more than any other is the estate tax. Before the significant estate tax relief enacted in 2014 is even fully phased-in, they want to cut the tax again. However, the estate tax is an effective way to prevent the accumulation...

Fourth Tier Impact is Modest

by | Jan 11, 2017

Ever since its passage during the 2013 legislative session, Minnesota conservatives have been critical of the fourth tier income tax, which increased the state tax rate on income above the fourth tier threshold from 7.85 percent to 9.85 percent. However, as noted in...

Much of Fourth Tier Tax Increase Shifted to Feds

by | Jan 10, 2017

Conservatives contend that Minnesota’s fourth tier income tax has led to a significant reduction in work, as well as flight to other states, among the high-income households affected by the tax. However, if we do the math, the impact of the fourth tier income tax...

Comparing Health Care Premium Relief Proposals

by | Jan 6, 2017

This week, both Governor Dayton and the Republican-led legislature released proposals to help Minnesotans deal with spikes in health care premiums. Governor Dayton originally proposed his plan in October 2016, while the GOP plan is new. Both proposals spend about $300...

Real City Spending Down Since 2006

by | Jan 5, 2017

Total Minnesota city revenues—adjusted for inflation—have declined by six percent from 2006 to 2015, based on data from the recently released Minnesota City Finances report from the Office of the State Auditor (OSA), as summarized in the preceding North Star article....