Common Cents for Minnesota Learning Paper
Published: March 2011
The Citizens League and TakeAction Minnesota, in partnership with the Bush Foundation, hosted community conversations around the state and online to share information about Minnesota’s budgetary challenges and to ask citizens: what values and priorities should guide solutions to state budget challenges for the long-term? Thirty-eight workshops were held—23 in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area and 15 in Greater Minnesota; 605 people attended the community workshops. An additional 136 participated formally online (via online surveys or discussion forums). While Liberals were slightly oversampled, the remainder of the demographics were fairly diverse—approximately 50/50 on gender; a good cross-section of ages; and 66% White or Caucasian (non-Hispanic), 12% African American, 7% Asian and 10% other ethnicities.
Key Themes
- There was a consistent emphasis on reforming services, especially K-12 education; health and income support for the poor, disabled and elderly; long-term care for the elderly; and higher education.
- Participants see Minnesota as a high quality, well-educated state. They are generally willing to continue to spend to maintain that, but want to focus on reform and a more competent, innovative government to accomplish that reform in partnership with others.
- Participants believe the tax structure needs reforming, to become more fair and transparent.
- Participants are willing to make across the board spending cuts in the short-term, but don’t favor spending cuts (alone) as a long-term strategy.
- Participants want better information about the state budget and favor an inclusive approach.