State government wants a piece of your mind
The Minnesota Department of Finance is asking citizens to contribute to the almost $5 billion shortfall. The contribution won’t be in money, but in ideas.
The department’s Web site at www.finance.state.mn.us has links to leave ideas and to read others’ ideas on how to cure the budget. Here are just a few:
Copy the procedures of private industry. If private industry has a cash short-fall, it moves to cut costs by reductions in equipment purchases AND looks to its workforce to further lower its operating costs BY LAYING OFF ITS EMPLOYEES!" Unlike the State of Minnesota, private industry CAN NOT RAISE ITS COSTS UNDER DOWNTURNS IN BUSINESS AS IT WOULD LOOSE EVEN MORE OF ITS CUSTOMER BASE. Therefore, my suggestion is for the State to downsize its workforce and bite the bullet.
Why not create another government holiday? During holidays, government does not have to pay workers and thus, saves money... That's what they do at my workplace. If budget is stressed, we get extra days off without pay.
Work on the important issues during the legislative session this year. Get them done first — don't wait until the end. Don't do any of the "symbolic" legislation (like making some specific day of the year "Charles Schultz Day." Save that for better times.)
Maybe if you get done early, you could close shop and save some money that way.
Eliminate the need for a front and rear license plate on all Minnesota vehicles. The only one benefiting is 3M which sells the reflectorized tape. Wouldn't this reduce our cost of materials while keeping the revenues the same. Other states such as Georgia and Florida have been doing this for years.
The use of road salt needs to be cut down dramatically. In the Willmar, Hutchinson and Saint Cloud areas where we do most of our driving, the Minnesota Highway department spreads salt on dry roads when there is absolutely no reason. This makes the drifting snow stick to the roads in these areas and makes a much more hazardous condition than not using the salt.
When you do make your cuts, cut at the state level (crap like benefits for partners of state employees) and do not totally dump your problems on local governments.
My suggestion to help reduce the deficit is to collect the money that the state already has receivable. My employer is so far behind in state payroll tax withholding and the payment of unemployment taxes is almost non-existent. As employees, we believe our tax dollars withheld are being paid in. The dollar amounts are well over $100,000 and he is a small business. The federal government has been aggressive in their collection efforts, but the state is lacking. One suggestion is to turn these type of debts over to collection companies.
I would like to see someone, anyone take a good look at education. I am only 26 years old and do not see my age group or the younger generation getting any smarter. Maybe if we went back to the basics of education, reading, writing and arithmetic and stopped trying do what is politically correct we would be smarter. Teach what is necessary to contribute to society (speak English, add and subtract) instead of all the other stuff education would not cost as much.
Raise fees for non-resident hunting/game licenses, state park admissions, historical sites, by $1 per person. This isn't huge, but it also allows us to gain some additional revenue from visitors outside the state.