Issue Position: Economy

Issue Position

The time I have spent on the Hopkins City Council has shown me how important it is to look at more than just the numbers when balancing a budget, you need to focus on the people the budget is affecting. It has always been important to me to have a vision of what you want to accomplish with your investment and then figure out how you will get there. A city or state can not be sustainable on a budget plan of "this is the amount I want to spend, what can I get for it". There is some truth to the old adage "you get what you pay for". I will continue to focus on finding a cost-effective way to provide the services that people need and have come to expect while maintaining our vibrant community.

In Hopkins and St. Louis Park, we know that our small businesses are the backbone of our Mainstreet, and we have made sure that we are doing what we can to help make them successful.

While the increase in Local Government Aid helped cities keep their levies low, there is more that the State can do to partner with our local governments to streamline resources and make investments that will spur economic growth.

We need to find ways to help small businesses grow, whether it be tax credits for expanding or remodeling or streamlining the business filing process. Every little bit could mean the difference between their end of the year being in the red or the black.

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