[Mpls] Republican Views of Minneapolis

[Michael Atherton]

Steven Clift wrote: 

> Does the city have a set of graphs and charts online that 
> provide an overview of revenue and expenditures?
> 
> Sort of like this:
> http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/taxes/individ/other_supporting_content/wheretaxesgo02.shtml

> I'd be interested in better understanding in graphical terms 
> where property taxes revenues are coming from (both commerical 
> and residential by area and as percentages over time) and 
> something that brings home the reduction in commerical property 
> tax and what needs to come out of residents.  I guess something 
> that showed any reductions in school property taxes per the state 
> spending shift and how other county taxes fit in would be useful.

My original question is actually much similar: Is the proportion of 
the city's budget that represents debt increasing or decreasing?

It's a scary thought that the proportion of debt might be increasing
in order to finance itself.  That is, are we borrowing to pay
principle and interest on existing debt?  I would hope that even
people who don't believe in the "bottom line" would see the folly
in this (unless interest rates are effectively lower).

On an unrelated topic Greg Abbott wrote:

> Occam's Razor - the simplest explanation is mostly likely the correct 
> one.  

Not! Occam's Razor suggests that an equally accurate, but simpler 
explanation is preferable to a more verbose one.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park