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Limited Government
Personal Liberty
Private
Property |
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"In President
Obama we finally
have a champion
at the federal level."
2010 State of
the City Address |
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Rybak's Five Year Master Plan Fails To Build Liberal Utopia |
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In June 2006, Mayor R. T. Rybak designed and
implemented a
Master Plan where city government would control all activity, growth, and
even the personal lives of its citizens in order to realize his version of the
perfect city. Like his idol Barak Obama, Rybak believes that "the City's
future is shaped through thoughtful and responsible leadership in partnership
with residents and coordinated with a regional vision." Over the last five years,
city government has used regulations, taxes, and fees to achieve this liberal
utopia, but with what results? The truth is that city streets are a disgrace, high
school graduation rates are under 50% (particularly for minorities), high city
taxes and fees make it nearly
unaffordable for families to live here, and the
police and fire departments are severely understaffed.
Utopian failures are not cheap. The 2011 city
budget
is $1.4 billion and plans are to
increase taxes every year into the distant future. It's obvious that basic
city services—snow plowing, street maintenance, police and fire
fighters—are not priorities, so where is all
that money going? In the table below, are
promises from the
Master Plan along with a list of some of the budget costs to implement
these ideas. While this information shows only part of the picture of city
expenditures, it can serve as a
starting point for the important discussion we need to have about how we're governed in
Minneapolis, what is appropriate for government to do, and what is best left
to the private initiative of its citizens. Note that all
the promises in Rybak's plan were to be accomplished by now.
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CONNECTED COMMUNITIES, GREAT SPACES &
PLACES, THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS
Minneapolis will be a connected collection of sustainable urban
villages where residents will live within walking distance of what they need or
of public transit; there will be a connected network of transportation options;
streets will be destinations; a mix of unique small businesses will be thriving;
and Minneapolis’ neighborhoods will have unique identities and character. |
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Public Works Transportation
- $106 million
Community
Planning/Economic Development - $104.2 million
Public Works
Fleet/Property Services - $63 million |
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A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME, HOUSING, HEALTH
AND SAFETY
In five years all Minneapolis residents will have a better quality of
life and access to housing and services; residents will live in a healthy
environment and benefit from healthy lifestyles; the city’s
infrastructure will be well-maintained and people will feel safe in the
City. |
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Public Works Water/Sewer - $140 million
Police
- $136 million
Fire - $52.9 million
Civil Rights - $2.5 million |
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ONE MINNEAPOLIS EQUAL ACCESS, EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY, EQUAL INPUT
In five years the gap will be closing for access to housing, health care,
education and employment; diversity will be welcome, respected and
valued; the city’s middle class will be thriving; there will be
living-wage jobs or entrepreneurial opportunities for everyone; all
residents will have confidence in public safety services; and residents
will have access to fair, open and transparent decision-making. |
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Regulatory
Services/Preparedness - $48.3 million
Health and
Family Support - $13.3 million
Clerk - $8.2 million
Neighborhood/Community Relations - $6 million
Assessor - $4.04 million
311 - $3.2 million |
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ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT-GREENSPACE, ARTS,
SUSTAINABILITY
In five years there will be plentiful green spaces, public gathering
areas, celebrated historic architectural features and urban forests in
Minneapolis; lakes, rivers and the soil and air will be clean; the city's
parks and the Mississippi riverfront will be valued and utilized;
opportunities to experience diverse cultures and the arts will abound;
and usage of renewable energy will be increasing. |
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City Coordinator - $120.3 million
Communications
- $2.3 million |
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FULLY IMPLEMENT THE CITY'S CULTURAL &
SUSTAINABLE WORK PLANS-A PREMIER DESTINATION VISITORS, INVESTMENT AND
VITALITY
In five years Minneapolis will be the economic leader in the region
with vast potential for growth and development; investors will see
Minneapolis as a sure thing; a distinctive mix of amenities,
entertainment and culture will be available downtown and in Minneapolis
neighborhoods; people who visit the city will want to come back; the city
will be an attractive landing spot for people in all life stages and will
be well-positioned for the creative class; and the country will see
Minneapolis as a national treasure. |
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Business Information Services
- $26.5 million
Finance
- $22 million
Intergovernmental Relations - $2.7 million |
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LIFELONG LEARNING SECOND TO NONE, SCHOOLS,
LIBRARIES AND INNOVATION
In five years Minneapolis will provide a superior education for all
students; literacy rates will be increasing; everyone entering adulthood
will have the knowledge and skills to earn a living wage; educational
resources will be a top priority; the city will fully realize the
benefits of having renowned educational and research institutions such as
the U of M; the wisdom of the senior population will be harnessed; and
Minneapolis will be known as a center of ideas. |
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Human Resources - $17.3 million
Attorney - $14.5 million
Youth Community
Board - $1.3 million |
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Don't pay property taxes?
No problem? Think again! |
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Property taxes are not the only source of revenue for the city. There
are city
fees and taxes on whatever you do or buy. Below is a list of typical city
charges on the monthly bills of a Minneapolis resident (2/11):
Excel Energy: $7.73 taxes
Phone: .5% additional fee
Cable: $2.40 taxes
Water: Stormwater fee - $14.28
Water: 9.75% Solid Waste tax
Long distance phone: .05% additional fee
CenterPoint Energy: $10.66 city franchise fee
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If this South Minneapolis resident went out to eat, had a drink at a
bar, or stayed in a downtown hotel for the weekend, she'd pay even more in
taxes just because she decided to spend her money in the city.
Click for a list of all the Minneapolis sales, liquor, hotel, beverage,
entertainment taxes. |
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Minneapolis Republicans |
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Minneapolis is a premier American city handicapped by ideological
leadership. Now there is good news for the city!
The Minneapolis City Republican
Committee intends to reverse the effects of decades of
liberalism--taxation, government control, weak law enforcement, and
anti-family policies--by electing Republicans to city offices who believe
that common sense conservatism is the answer to the city's problems. |
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About the city,
wards, and neighborhoods... |
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Below are news items about city, ward, and
neighborhood issues that you might find of interest. Please check back as
the list is updated often.
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City dreams buckle under taxes' weight
Many homeowners are facing double-digit tax percentage increases
in 2011 -- and the prospect of more hikes to come.
By Richard Meryhew
Star Tribune, 2/16/11 |
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Mandate Reform Required
"Since Election Day, counties, cities, townships and school boards
have reached out to me and asked that I take a look at
over 100 unfunded state mandates on local government. They felt
that a significant proportion of the cost of local government
is derived from these unnecessary mandates." (Sen. John Carlson,
R)
By Gary Gross
True North blog, 2/15/011 |
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Twin Cities home values still skidding downward
"During the quarter, home values fell 12 percent in the Twin
Cities metro area compared to the prior year, and Zillow said it
was one of the worst quarters since it started tracking real
estate trends in 1996."
By Jim Buchta
Star Tribune, 2/9/11 |
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Minneapolis Firefighters Sound Alarm
Minneapolis firefighters are sounding the alarm, by warning
residents about potential cuts. Union leaders say 32-positions
could be lost through attrition, another eight in layoffs.
By Colleen Mahoney
kstp.com, 2/7/11 |
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5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Investigates: Taxpayers Foot Bill for Pension
Plan Expense
Your money is being used on a losing legal fight, trips to Las
Vegas and Florida, and pricey lobbyists. Millions of dollars in
expenses are being racked up by pension plans for retired
Minneapolis police and firefighters.
kstp.com, 2/6/11 |
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Fighting City Hall - Neighborhood Revitalization Program versus
City of Minneapolis
By Cynthia Frost
TC Daily Planet, 1/26/11 |
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Minneapolis schools make $3.7 million error
"The Minneapolis School District underestimated the cost of the
new teacher contract by $3.7 million due to a 'significant'
clerical error. The contract will cost the district $14.7 million,
not $11 million as initially estimated."
By Corey Mitchell
Star Tribune, 1/25/11 |
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Street repaving coming to downtown Minneapolis
By Chris Newmarker
Mpls/St. Paul Business Journal, 1/21/11
Star Tribune, 1/19/11 |
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North Minneapolis charter school won't open until 2012
"Minneapolis has lofty goals for the charter school, which
they hope will provide solutions to dismal graduation rates and
bring back students who have fled north Minneapolis for suburban
districts or other city high schools."
By Corey Mitchell
Star Tribune, 1/19/11 |
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"When the people fear their
government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the
people, there is liberty...The strongest reason for the people to
retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to
protect themselves against tyranny in government."
John Basil Barnhill, 1914 |
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Our Mission |
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To seek out and support Republican
candidates to the city council, school board, park board, board of estimate
and taxation, and mayor who are committed to bringing real solutions to the
problems of the city and our neighborhoods, and |
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| To organize informational
forums of experts to speak in wards across the city on issues of importance
to voters and offer specific common sense Republican solutions and goals for
changing public policy. |
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MCRC
out and about the city |
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MCRC is out and about all over our great city spreading conservatism
and the Republican message of limited government and personal liberty.
We'll be posting photos of the various events throughout the summer so
check back often and see what we've been doing.
Better yet, check out our calendar and join us!
MCRC
CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY PARTY,
December 19, 2010
Click images for a larger view.
More
photos...
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Useful links |
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Minneapolis City Republican Committee •
P.O. Box 19634
Minneapolis, MN 55419-0634 • info@minneapolisrepublicans.org
Prepared and paid for by the Minneapolis City
Republican Committee
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee |
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