Our View: It's your taxes, so stay in touch

The Minnesota Legislature reconvenes Feb. 11 and our representatives are getting ready for the session.

Our State Senator for District 11 is Jason Rarick, who lives in Brook Park and represents Pine and Carlton counties, essentially.

State Rep. Mike Sundin, who lives in Esko, represents Carlton County, essentially, in the House of Representatives District 11A.

This year is a bonding year, rather than a policy year, which means that the legislature will decide which investments the state should be making with our tax dollars. Bonding (a form of borrowing) is used to finance projects like the Carlton water system upgrades; pay to clean up contaminated sites like at the Esko post office; and build infrastructure like the Big Lake sewer project. Also on the agenda is the possible aid for the Carlton and Wrenshall schools districts as they move toward consolidation.

Gov. Tim Walz has proposed bonding about $2 billion for projects statewide; and the Republicans are hoping for a bonding bill for about half that amount.

Since the Democrats control the House of Representatives, and the Republicans control the Senate, it’s easy to see that there will be quite a lot of negotiating, politics, and arguing this session.

And nothing really prevents the Legislature from considering other issues, so some unresolved issues from last year’s sessions may arise, such as a proposed gas tax increase.

But after last year’s compromises, we’re encouraged that the state legislature will work with the governor and come up with reasonable solutions to most of the issues it will consider this session. And we hope, even encourage, citizens to exercise their right to contact our legislators and let them know our positions. It’s what makes our representative democracy work.

Here’s a start:

Sen. Jason Rarick, 651-296-1508 or [email protected].

Rep. Mike Sundin, 651-296-4308 or 218-391-5911 or [email protected]