Speaker and Minneapolis Resident Margaret Anderson Kelleher Goes for Mall Boondoggle at the Expense of Her Home Town
From:
Bob Spaulding
Date:
May 09 17:10 UTC
Short link
An excellent op-ed piece on the Mall of America subsidy appeared today in the
Pioneer Press, that captures well the primary reasons to oppose the proposed
use of the fiscal disparities program to subsidize the expansion of the Mall of
America:
http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_9197344
This article focuses on a grim realtiy: the MOA subsidy would deal a major blow
to the integrity and future of our nationally-recognized Fiscal Disparities
program, which stabilizes cities by sharing tax base revenue. The program
takes a portion of all new taxes collected from commercial-industrial
properties across metro cities, and distributes it so as to even out the tax
burden across the metro area.
The program is credited with helping the Twin Cities avoid the fate suffered by
so many central cities and inner suburbs elsewhere. Places like Detroit and
St. Louis (as well as many, many other regions) see cities caught in an endless
spiral that results in disinvestment and sprawl.
That spiral starts with a loss of tax base (companies and employees moving
away). Then there is an increasing demand on services from an increasingly
needy population. Then, because major commercial taxpayers have been lost,
there is need to increase taxes on those who remain just to keep providing the
same services. And over time, residents in these cities pay more for fewer
services and a lower quality of life than they would get in other nearby
cities, causing even more incentive for businesses and residents to leave the
city. And the cycle continues.
The other huge advantage of the Fiscal Disparities program is to make the use
subsidies to lure companies from one part of the metro to another less
compelling, so we can stop wasting our time competing with one another, and
begin to cooperate and compete as a region.
Bob
StarTribune Editorial: If mall proposal goes through, a parade of projects will
follow
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/18467184.html
James Lileks: Stores Galore! But what of the MOA Ramp?
http://pd.startribune.com/sp?eId=92&gcId=476325942&rNum=6
Pawlenty wants Mall of America Proposal Refined
http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/18414214.html
Session Weekly/Daily Planet News: A mega opportunity at what cost?
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/04/26/mega-opportunity-what-cost.html
John Marty: Shopping mall parking ramp to get public money?
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/04/21/shopping-mall-parking-ramp-get-public-money.html
David Morris: Be Suspicious of Megamall Subsidy
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/18529969.html
.