David's BlogMonday, February 11, 2013Responding Responsibly to Local and State Issues
In
late 2012, Mayor Ness and his leadership team announced they planned to
raise Duluth's property taxes by 2.9% in 2013. The Chamber was the one
organization that publicly opposed the tax increase. We challenged the
Mayor to reduce the tax increase. Many of our members appreciated the
Chamber's advocacy. The Chamber was applauded.
Similarly,
one month ago the City of Duluth announced it intended to raise the
City's Comfort Systems rate for natural gas by 5%. Again, the Chamber
was the one organization that publicly opposed the rate increase. We
openly challenged the Duluth Public Utilities Commission to delay any
rate increase until more citizen feedback could be provided. Many of our
members appreciated the Chamber's advocacy. Once again, the Chamber was
congratulated.
Likewise,
the Duluth City Council was poised to pass into law the City's new and
more restrictive sign ordinance. Once more, the Chamber was the one
organization that openly challenged the City to delay implementing the
ordinance until more business community input could be provided. The
City agreed to the delay. Many of our members appreciated the Chamber's
advocacy. For a third time, the Chamber was affirmed.
Conversely,
when Governor Dayton announced his budget recommendations for the 2013
legislative session, I stopped short of immediately publicly opposing
the recommendations. Instead, I expressed an appreciation for the
challenges being faced by the governor as he attempts to balance the
budget responsibly and without borrowing. A few of our members did not
appreciate this measured response.
Why
a different response to the governor's recommendations when the Chamber
has been so decisive on the local issues? It was in recognition of the
complexity of our state's chronic budgeting problems. It also recognized
how the governor's proposed budget provided a needed starting point to
what will be an elongated budget debate.
I am reminded of the quote by H. L. Mencken,
"to every complex problem, there is a simple solution - and it is
wrong." There is no simply solution to our state's billion dollar budget
deficit. State legislators have faced a budget deficit in eight of the
last ten years. Something has to change. Change won't come by responding
to this shared challenge with an immediate and simple, "no new taxes"
or "no more cuts."
My
colleagues and I at the Chamber are learning as much as we can about
the governor's budget recommendations. There are many details to
evaluate. We will also work to understand and respond to the subsequent
proposals offered by those who oppose the governor's proposal. It will
be a budget battle that will evolve throughout the legislative session.
Through it all, we will continue to meet with our members to learn how
the various budget recommendations will impact them. We will ensure that
our members' concerns, suggestions and opinions are conveyed to our
elected officials.
Be
assured, we will advocate at the Capitol on our members behalf. We will
do this with the same energy and conviction at the state level as we
have done at the local level. Our collective voice will be heard - if we
interact with the state's decision-makers in a reasonable, respectful
and pragmatic fashion. If we do so, we have a chance to be a part of the
needed change at the Capitol.
posted by David Ross
at
7:57 AM
|
Previous Posts:
Archives:
Subscribe to |
©2012 Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.
5 West First Street, Suite 101, Duluth, MN 55802
218.722.5501 Fax: 218.722.3223
