Business Share of Minnesota Taxes Below US Average

by | Jun 26, 2017

Many believe that Minnesota businesses bear a disproportionate share of the total state and local tax load compared to businesses in other states. This notion is perhaps the result of significant corporate and individual income taxes, the presence of both state and...

Yes, the Minnesota Price of Government Has Declined

by | Jun 21, 2017

A recent article in the Star Tribune has sparked a minor dustup regarding Minnesota’s “Price of Government” (PoG). The article, which focused on the budget legacy of Governor Mark Dayton and featured fiscal comparisons between the Pawlenty and Dayton administrations,...

Minnesota Business Tax Rates Below U.S. Average

by | Jun 19, 2017

Minnesota’s business lobby frequently complains that business tax rates in the Gopher State are high. Such claims are often based on nominal tax rates—in other words, the rates that are written into state law; however, nominal rates do not take into account various...

Minnesota Business Taxes Per Worker Below U.S. Average

by | Jun 15, 2017

Conservatives regularly claim that business taxes in Minnesota are high relative to the rest of the nation, but an examination of fiscal year (FY) 2015 total state and local business taxes per private sector employee in each of the fifty states reveals that Minnesota...

What One Hand Giveth, the Other Taketh Away

by | Jun 9, 2017

Minnesota counties received some good news and some bad news during the first 2017 special legislative session. The tax bill that was ultimately signed into law included a significant increase in County Program Aid (CPA), as well changes to the CPA formula sought by...

Minnesota Counties: The State’s Underfunded Partner

by | May 31, 2017

The State of Minnesota and the 87 Minnesota counties partner to perform many public functions. Counties operate as the administrative arm of the state in providing many state-mandated services, while the state provides aid to counties to help pay for these services;...