Gambling Economics: Summary Facts by Professor Earl Grinols
Read a summary of Professor Earl L. Grinols' presentation on the social and economic costs of gambling before the Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Committee April 29, 2011.
Issue Backgrounder: Public and Private Sector Compensation in Minnesota
In an era of high unemployment, perennial state budget deficits, soaring property taxes, it is not only appropriate, but necessary, for state and local government to acknowledge the economic realities facing its taxpayers, and to control spending accordingly.
At a Crossroads: A Report Card on Public Higher Education in Minnesota
Improve Quality, Control Costs: Report Card Grades Minnesota Public Universities at Pivotal Time
The report card, entitled At a Crossroads, surveys the two major public higher education systems in Minnesota. It offers a Pass or Fail grade in four key areas: what a college education costs (cost and effectiveness), how the universities are governed (governance), what students are learning (general education), and whether the marketplace of ideas is vibrant (intellectual diversity).
Racino Group's Claim Do Not Stand Up to Scrutiny
Analysis by the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota shows that several claims made by Racino Now are misleading and often based on a misinterpretation of economic and statistical data. Among other things, Racino Now dramatically overstates the horse industry’s economic impact in Minnesota and fails to substantiate its claims regarding the racino proposal’s economic benefits to the state’s farm economy. The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota's Fact Check seeks to set the record straight.
Minnesota's Out-Migration Compounds State Budget Woes
Study Shows Minnesota Taxpayers Moving out of State Compounds Budget Woes: “Tax birds” join “snow birds” in migrating to states with friendlier tax climates
Thousands of Minnesotans are moving to states with more competitive tax rates, costing state and local government hundreds of millions of lost tax revenueat a time of historic budget deficits.
The Prognosis for National Health Insurance: A Minnesota Perspective
New Study Concludes Minnesota Taxpayers and Economy Pay Steep Price for Washington’s Health Care Proposals
Prepared by renowned economists Dr. Arthur Laffer, Donna Arduin, and Wayne Winegarden, Prognosis for National Health Insurance: A Minnesota Perspective analyzes the impact of a $1 trillion increase in federal health care outlays on the national and state economy over ten years based on reforms proposed by Congress and President Obama.
Government Transparency Series: Local Government Aid
Proposal aims to increase local government autonomy, transparency and accountability
Part of FFM's Government Transparency Series, the report argues that Local Government Aid (LGA) is an unsustainable program that taxpayers can no longer afford and that reforms to LGA, whether incremental or sweeping, have been woefully insufficient.
Municipal Golf Operations in Minnesota: Teeing Off on Taxpayers
FFM Scorecard Shows City-Owned Golf Courses Tee Off on Taxpayers: Muni-golf a handicap to city residents, who subsidize tens of thousands of rounds and carts annually
Of the more than 500 Minnesota golf courses, just over 100 municipal courses are owned by approximately 70 cities across the state and the vast majority of city courses lose money. While many city courses were built during a golfing boom in the 1980s and 1990s, the popularity of the game has declined steadily in the last decade, leading to fewer rounds, fewer green fees, and subpar financial results at many city-run links.
FFM City Spotlight-Richfield
Unless Richfield plans on bucking the demographic trend of a declining and aging population, which its recent past suggests is unlikely, the city’s debt obligations will become increasingly onerous. Any obligation Richfield makes today may need to be paid for by an older and smaller population in the future, according to an FFM report.
Drinking on the Taxpayers' Dime
Municipal Liquor Operations in Minnesota
Most Minnesotans probably assume that their city tax dollars help pay for police and fire protection, road maintenance, snow plowing and public utilities. And, in most cases, local tax money does help fund these services. But in over 200 cities across Minnesota, citizens are also paying for their city government to operate liquor stores and bars. In fact, while many Minnesota cities profit from liquor sales, dozens of cities’ liquor operations actually lose money year after year, forcing local taxpayers to subsidize the purchase and consumption of liquor within their communities.
North St. Paul Officials Operate "Under the Radar" on PolarNet
North St. Paul voters will decide if they want to ante up $18.5 million to build a citywide telecommunications and high-speed Internet network. This government-run fiber-optic system, called "PolarNet," would provide residents with phone, cable TV and high-speed Internet services, all of which are currently available from existing providers. In several memos and emails obtained through public-records requests, top city officials and paid consultants discuss withholding key information from the public about PolarNet's risks, costs, and viability.