Ground Level Blog

Growth in Minnesota has been focused in what state demographer Tom Gillaspy calls a “doughnut” around the Twin Cities. Upcoming redistricting will likely focus heavily on these areas, bringing more political power to the exurbs.
State policy binds Minnesota cities on how they can raise revenue, and how much they can tax. And if state aid to those cities continues to be cut, then what will be the refuge for small city budgeters? Likely it will be trimming or ending services.