“Open government” in Minnesota involves the establishment of a new and active partnership between taxpayers and local government officials in setting spending priorities and budgeting for them. It is founded on a shared commitment to find better and more cost-efficient solutions to the delivery of public services.
The goal of “Open Government Minnesota” is to provide access to all data needed to create and support the development of a more open and vigorous public discussion surrounding the restructuring of local government, with the goal of delivering public services more effectively, efficiently, and at a lower cost to property taxpayers.
OpenGovernmentMN.com has been established as an online resource and central repository of research, news and other information useful in informing Minnesota taxpayers and encouraging public debate and involvement.
Government Employees
Local Government
Q. What does greater transparency in government spending have to do with property taxes?
A. Everything!
It's time to unveil the drivers behind the rising cost of public services and the demand for increasing local tax revenues.
Transparency Proposal Press Release, Initiative to Spur Greater Transparency in Local Government Spending Launched by NAIOP Minnesota
Ultimately local government spending drives property tax levies and, in turn, property taxpayers’ bills. This is the most influential piece of the property tax system. It is also the most important and—in many ways—the most challenging element for taxpayers to understand.
Open Government in Minnesota Report
An agenda to support greater transparency and taxpayer participation in local budgeting processes.
This report examines issues impacting the ability of property taxpayers to make informed judgments about local spending and the use of their property tax dollars. It identifies three requirements for taxpayers to be able to prudently understand the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their government's operations.
Read the full 16 page report, including the requirements, the issues relevant to those requirements along with the recommendations for improving taxpayers' understanding of proposed property tax changes.
Expenditure Type Financial Reporting
To complement spending information by program, we propose that expenditure type information be added.
An aggregated expenditure type budget presentation would:
- Highlight cost drivers and trends
- Connect cost drivers to property tax changes
- Enable taxpayers to easily:
- Identify critical issues
- Ask questions with confidence
- Better understand the financial challenges confronting local elected officials
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Local governments typically present budgets by program area (public safety, parks, public works, etc.)
To complement spending information by program, we propose to add aggregated “expenditure type” information.
An aggregated “expenditure type”-based budget would:
- Highlight cost drivers and trends
- Connect cost drivers to property tax changes
- Enable taxpayers to easily:
- Identify critical issues
- Ask questions with confidence
- Better understand the financial challenges confronting local elected officials, now and in the years to come
Three editorials came out in support of expenditure type reporting legislation, calling for more transparency in local budgets.
- A provision for transparency in local government
"A bill in the Minnesota Legislature to require cities and counties to report more budget information -- in a way that helps citizens spot local spending trends -- could become law as part of a renegotiated tax bill. If it fails, it will be one of the 2012 session's missed opportunities."
"Dayton's signature on the tax bill will mean many things to Minnesotans. We hope it also will mean new transparency for local government units and the citizens who want answers that now are buried deep in city budgets."
St. Paul Pioneer Press, Thursday, May 10, 2012
- Truth in Budgeting
The legislature may require standardized reporting by counties and most cities beginning in fall.
“Regardless of the political bickering and the hidden agendas-be they fictional or real-all sides should support greater transparency in government spending.”
Dale Kurschner, Editor’s Note, Twin Cities Business Magazine, March 2012
- The pitter-patter of bipartisan feet
“It’s an itty-bitty piece” of legislation, if anything that “could be a baby step toward bigger bipartisan moves … this could be it.”
Lori Sturdevant, Star Tribune Opinion Exchange, Sunday, February 19, 2012
- Help Minnesota residents see what drives public cost increases
The St. Paul Pioneer Press editorial board supports NAIOP Minnesota’s transparency initiative.
“A bill in the Minnesota House ... helps understand better what’s driving costs higher and could change taxpayers’ ‘why bother’ attitudes.”
This supportive editorial is based on interviews with Paul Reinke, Senior Director – Development at Haugland Company, Oakdale City Council Member and NAIOP member; Rep. Keith Downey of Edina, chief author in the House; and Kaye Rakow, Director of Public Policy – NAIOP Minnesota.
Pioneer Press, January 31, 2012
