Minnesota’s cycle of budget deficits must be broken. We cannot continue to try the same solutions and expect different results. It’s become clear, as our state’s top elected DFL leaders said in a recent op-ed offering, that we cannot cut our way to prosperity, just as we cannot tax our way to greatness.

Instead, a budget must be developed that will promote economic competitiveness, provide greater economic security for the middle class and other people struggling in these tough economic times, they said.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton offered his “Budget for a Better Minnesota” Tuesday to mixed reviews.

“If the investments in my budget proposal are made, they will yield returns in new jobs, private investments, vibrant communities and additional state and local tax revenues; and they will help keep our economy moving forward,” said Dayton in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk told local leaders Tuesday that Dayton said there will be something for everyone to hate in his budget. But there are a few key proposals that would impact Borderland in his budget that we think deserve attention by the Legislature. Those items involve education, property tax relief and tax reform, transportation and veterans needs. For more details of the governor’s budget proposal, see http://mn.gov/governor/budget/

The governor’s budget proposes early education for 11,000 young children, optional all-day kindergarten for 46,000 kids, and increases K-12 funding by $52 per student. His budget also delivers a significant increase in direct student aid for higher education and makes needed investments in the Minnesota State Colleges and University system, of which Rainy River Community College is a part, and the University of Minnesota to ready the state’s future workforce for the jobs of the future.

The governor’s budget also provides a property tax rebate of up to $500 for Minnesota homeowners. Combined with a new investment in local government aid and county program aid, which play crucial roles in Borderland, these measures would provide direct property tax relief for middle-class families.

The governor’s budget cuts business property taxes, eliminates unfair corporate tax loopholes, and asks the wealthiest 2 percent in the state to pay a fair share of tax.

Dayton’s budget invests in Minnesota veterans to ensure they receive the education, opportunities, and benefits they earned through their service. It also calls for $1 million in county veteran service office grants, which allows local VSOs to help veterans and their families obtain benefits and services earned through military service.

Many of the proposals in Dayton’s budget would appear to directly impact Borderland for the better and we urge state lawmakers to take an objective look at them.

And, should these proposals be implemented, we must hold Dayton to his words and give credit and criticism when due.