Commissioner Myron Frans, Governor Dayton Announce Price of Government Declines

Governor Mark Dayton and Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans announced at a press conference Wednesday, September 30, the results of a report showing the price of government in Minnesota has declined over the last twenty years. The "Price of Government" report measures state and local government costs relative to personal income and highlights in particular an 11.7 percent decline during a twenty year span dating back to 1994, when the Price of Government law was enacted.

According to MMB, the historical price of government has been 16.1 percent of personal income. The number was 17.9 percent in 1994 and in 2014 dropped to 15.8 percent. Commissioner Frans noted that state and local government services are projected to continue the downward trend over the next five years. "We're projecting that in 2019 the price of government will drop to an all-time low of 14.6 percent based on estimates," Frans said.

During the question and answer portion of the press conference, Governor Dayton stated his disappointment at the potential increase of state health insurance premiums for individual policy holders. "Well I dislike it," the governor said. "...it under minds the whole attempt to make this Affordable Care Act system work." The governor also fielded numerous questions about a Black Lives Matter plan to protest at the site of the Twin Cities Marathon and commented on recent news about the relationship of state subsidies to bus companies associated with Commissioner of Transportation Charles Zelle.