St. Paul’s unsustainable rise in property taxes

Over the past decade, St. Paul’s budget has grown by 56% to over $854 million in the proposed 2025 budget. The revenue from property taxes has grown, over that same period, by 113%. This ever-growing budget has been in support of flawed priorities that have resulted in poor roads, a downtown that is drying up and a $100 million maintenance backlog for Parks and Rec.

The City needs to prioritize its “got to have” needs over “nice to have” projects. People and businesses are drawn to cities that are well managed and well maintained. Per the Minnesota Department of Revenue, St. Paul has the highest effective property tax burden in the state as well as the highest sales tax in the state. Per the 2025 budget, our tax base has shrunk by 1.8% since the last budget. Since the 2020 Census, per the Met Council, St. Paul’s population has decreased. Businesses and people are voting with their feet. The new budget should not move forward with any new capital projects until the roads are repaired and the $100 million maintenance backlog has been addressed. Future capital projects should only be considered when plans include not only the cost to build but also estimated costs for staffing, operations and maintenance which are expected to be paid for by property tax increases. If my roof is leaking and needs repair, I cannot go out and buy a new boat and then pressure my boss or my banker for more money to repair the roof. This would be unsustainable.

The continued steep rise in property taxes is unsustainable. We need to have a more responsible approach to spending and taxation.

Gary R. Todd, St. Paul

Footprints we might follow

Regardless of who we are, we all stand at the front of the line in regard to history. Those who have gone before us have left footprints we might follow.

“Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince or one of the people.” — Jean de la Fontaine, 1621-1695

“Will people ever be wise enough to refuse to follow bad leaders or to take away the freedom of other people?” — Eleanor Roosevelt , 1884-1962

“We all do better when we ALL do better.” — Sen. Paul Wellstone, 1944-2002

Becky Lee Hirdman, St. Paul

How did that not raise a red flag?

Oh my word … I just finished reading “Eagan woman pleads guilty in food fraud” (Oct. 2). I cannot believe sending money to Gedo Community Services for claiming to serve 233,000 meals in a three-month period for children in a town of only 2,600 people. Didn’t that send a red flag hard enough to knock a State of Minnesota employee out of their chair? I certainly hope that when all those who were arrested are finished with their court cases that the State of Minnesota does a house cleaning of incompetent employees.

Our schools are in serious need of funds to continue to best serve the children of Minnesota and this money would certainly fill that void.

Marjorie Orris, Shoreview

Losing doesn’t make him a loser

As we’re nearing the 2024 presidential election, I found myself thinking back to the 2020 election and some of the things that have happened or been said since. Our 45th president was soundly defeated in 2020 … losing by over 7 million popular votes and by 74 Electoral College votes, but has yet to admit losing.

I’m not sure what it is about losing that bothers him so much. Everyone experiences losing, it’s part of the natural order of life and living. If you’re going to compete, whether in an athletic contest, bidding for a contract in the business world, vying for the heart of the prettiest girl in school, or running for political office, somebody wins and somebody loses. Abe Lincoln, one of our most beloved and successful presidents, lost eight elections in his career. A major league baseball player who has a batting average of .300, which is considered excellent, still fails 2 out of 3 at bats.

There is no shame in losing, but it’s a person’s reaction to loss that often is a true measure of their character. Our 45th president’s actions, even before that election, speak volumes about his character. His constant complaints about mail-in-voting due to Covid, about our military service members using absentee voting, about his fear of immigrants voting illegally or about the integrity of our voting machines and voting sites (all of which were debunked) and all of this BEFORE the election.

His comments remind me of meeting a group of friends on the first tee for a round of golf, and before the first ball is even hit, listening to a member of your foursome complain about his bad back, or how he didn’t get a good night’s sleep, or how his clubs were too old … just making excuses to have at the ready in case he plays poorly. Exactly the M.O. (method of operation) of our 45th. After his 2020 loss, he did what he certainly is entitled to do — ask for a recount — to no avail. He also lost 60-some appeals to courts in several states, and was repeatedly told by close advisors, members of his own party, and even family members, that he lost a fair and legitimate election. All that, and he won’t accept his loss … and that is what makes him a “loser.”

And now, as we are on the eve of another election, the same excuses are flowing. It’s frightening, but interesting to contemplate, but if he loses again, will he this time admit defeat graciously, congratulate the winner and attend the inauguration, or will history repeat itself with another barrage of false rhetoric and the childish behavior of a “ loser”?

— Mike Miller  Lakeland

Only some rights?

After watching the campaign ads on television and reading the literature found on my door and in my mailbox. I’ve come to the conclusion that the Democrats are only interested in women’s right and no one else’s.

Don Anderson Jr., Cottage Grove

Look inside first

“I discovered another attempt had been made on Trump’s life. Would Democrats calling him Hitler have anything to do with this?” a letter writer asks, casting shade (“A vote doesn’t define you,” Sept. 22). Well, no, as that would-be assassin has now been shown to be a long-disturbed man who it seems was angry at Trump because of his stance toward Ukraine. Another letter on the same day refers to the Democratic party “Hitlerizing” Trump.

Guess the writers don’t know that Trump’s running mate JD Vance once said on Facebook: “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical (expletive deleted) or that he’s America’s Hitler.” (He also called Trump “an idiot” and “reprehensible.”)

There have been multiple reports of Trump admiring Hitler. He complained to his chief of staff, retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, that America’s military leaders were not totally loyal to him, saying “Why can’t you be like the German generals?” He also told Kelly that “Hitler did some good things.” Trump has echoed Hitler by describing his political enemies as “vermin” and saying immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country,” a phrase used by Hitler in his book “Mein Kampf.” Trump claimed he didn’t know where the term came from, but then he kept repeating it.

So before pointing fingers at Democrats, maybe you should look within your own house.

Carol Turnbull, Woodbury

River might catch fire, but …

The other night at the vice presidential debate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) was unable to say who won the last election. A party that cannot figure out who won the last presidential election shouldn’t get your vote in the next presidential election. By the way, I’m originally from Ohio. I can say categorically that we don’t eat dogs and cats there, despite what the Republican candidates Vance and Donald Trump have claimed. Granted, the Cuyahoga River might catch fire now and then, but we don’t eat pets.

M.L. Kluznik, Mendota Heights

She gets it

Joyful. That’s how I felt reading Margaret Crimmins Mason’s article, “Ode to joy” (Oct. 3). She gets it. Running a marathon at age 70. Many have already settled into their recliners, watching TV, and packing in junk food. And complaining. Oh yes, the complaining. About aches and pains, politics, the weather. No topic is exempt.

She has chosen to be outdoors, reaping the positive benefits of exercise and camaraderie. Summit Avenue on Twins Cities Marathon day is the perfect example of neighbors coming together. I have experienced an orchestra, cowbells, a rock band and individuals cheering the runners on. It’s a Happening!

Whether walking, running, or being propelled by the joyful energy of the crowd in the 5k Saturday and marathon Sunday, you should  be feeling good just for challenging yourself and doing it. So what if the sweeper is right behind you.

Ursula Krawczyk, St. Paul

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