State Representative
Mary Liz Holberg

ST. PAUL High taxes and quality schools were clearly the top two issues of concern to area voters who responded to Rep. Mary Liz Holberg's 1999 legislative survey. Nearly 600 households returned the nine-question survey which was distributed in February to residents in Lakeville, Farmington, Elko, New Market, Cedar Lake Township and Credit River.

And what about all those state budget surpluses?

"Overwhelming, by 69 to 18 percent, voters on the survey said the legislature should use the surplus to enact permanent tax cuts rather than a one-time rebate," Holberg said. "That's surprising since a lot of attention had been focused on the debate over a sales tax or income tax rebate. I think lot of people in the district are looking at the bigger picture."

The actual number of people who took the survey was closer to a thousand, Holberg said, since the forms allowed space for two voters to reply within the same household. The questionnaires were still arriving at Holberg's legislative office when she began tabulating the results.

"I'm delighted with the response," Holberg said. "I want to thank those who took the time to fill it out and mail it back to me. While there seemed to be a consistent opinion on issues such as taxes, education and transportation, responses varied widely on many other issues. It's not easy to lump the voters together in the district."

Asked to name the top issue facing the state, 32 percent of respondents said high taxes and 21 percent said quality in K-12 education. Access to quality healthcare came in third with10 percent. No other issue listed property rights, transportation, environmental protection, crime and higher education funding garnered double-digit support.

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HOLBERG SURVEY cont...

On other tax and fee related questions, Holberg said respondents were clear: they wanted reduced taxes and they wanted surplus dollars returned to taxpayers. Asked to decide what the state should do with the $6 billion tobacco lawsuit settlement, 39 percent said return the money to taxpayers. Some 19 percent said use it for healthcare programs and 21 percent said use it to eliminate the health care provider tax. Surprisingly, only 8 percent of respondents said earmark that money for anti-smoking campaigns. And although many recognize the need for road construction, only 25 percent of respondents favored a gas tax increase to fund it; 69 percent were opposed.

"For years now, voters have been inundated with headline after headline about budget surpluses, including the latest $4 billion windfall," Holberg said. "It would take a miracle to pass a tax increase this session."

Also in Rep. Holberg's survey:

Profile of Learning: Respondents were split over the direction the legislature should take regarding the state Graduation Rule and the Profile of Learning requirement. Some 37 percent said local school districts should have more freedom in curriculum decisions; 27 percent said repeal or delay implementation of the Profile; and 27 percent said let's do nothing and wait and see what happens.

Education Tax Credits & Deductions: Some 35 percent said they should be expanded to cover all public school expenses and 26 percent said they should include private school tuition. Another 17 percent said the credit should not be expanded and 14 percent said it should be scrapped.

Transportation Needs: Asked how the state should address growing transportation needs, 34 percent said build more roads while 32 percent favor light rail. Only 8 percent said do more to improve the bus system

Emissions Test: Get rid of the metro area $8 vehicle emissions testing requirement? A sizable majority 69 percent said yes; 25 percent said no.

Baseball Stadium: Slightly more than half 51 percent said funding for a stadium should be paid with fees paid by people who attend games, while 22 percent favored gambling (slots at Canterbury). A quarter of respondents had other opinions. Only 2 percent supported public financing.

"The results of the survey confirmed what former Rep. Bill Macklin had said about the stadium issue all along," Holberg said. "The people in this district do not support public funding for a stadium. Period."

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