[Mpls] Distribution of Budget Info to Candidates

[C Becker]

Meg Forney wrote:

> In response to this very good dialogue regarding access to information for
> candidates in particular, it raises my view that there is a need for
> distribution to all candidates of the full profit and loss report of the
> current year and the budget with line items included for whatever office
> they seek.

I would note that the City's budget books are available at the public 
libraries for folks who are not as technologically advanced and on the 
City's website for those who are at: 
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/city-budget/

Frankly though for folks who want a better understanding on what is 
happening with property taxes, the Assessor has a good  write-up at 
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/assessor/TNTFAQ1112.asp#P51_9392

The Library budget is pretty detailed as it is included in the City's budget 
books.  The Park Board budget is available separately from the Park Board 
(it has an orange cover - thanks Scott Vreeland for nabbing me one).  I 
would agree that it is not the best - it could provide more detailed 
information, especially cost information by program and an overview of 
revenues - but at least there is something by major program available to 
citizens.

I do have over ten years of budget books at my house if anyone is interested 
in researching any financial trends.  I don't think all the libraries keep 
these that long.  I also have State of the City books back quite a few years 
which also have a lot of good information about trends in the City.  Current 
ones are on-line at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/citywork/planning/soc03/
I am sad that this is no longer published in hard cover because it was such 
a good resource.  If any of this would be of use to any of the candidates, I 
would be more than welcome to pull that stuff out.

And for the true geeks out there, I just got my hands on "The Plan of 
Minneapolis" from 1917.  It is really cool.  It has a complete street plan; 
a complete land use plan (including where we were going to put the 
"laborers, foreigners, and Negroes"); a complete parks plan; a plan for 
where the business district was going to be when we had a million and a half 
people in the City and couldn't build skyscrapers because they were 
unhealthy; a population density map overlaid with the trolley car system 
(courtesy of the Minneapolis Street Railway Company); a discussion of 
commuter rail, all in all quite fun for the folks who love Minneapolis 
history and Minneapolis planning.

Carol Becker
Longfellow
Candidate for Board of Estimate and Taxation