In his recent Star Tribune commentary (“As the world moves forward, Minnesota stands still”), Eric Schubert introduces the useful term “stagnancy tax” to highlight the price we pay for our repeated failure to follow through with solutions to state problems. He offers as an example the abortive outcome from a 2000 state commission on long term care. Cost-saving recommendations sailed through the Legislature, but within a few years, the work had stopped and costs doubled.
Unfortunately, stopping is our pattern. Our repetitive standing in
place is, in effect, a stagnancy tax, an unnecessary, ever-rising
expense.
To move from a stagnancy state to an innovation state, we must start with a vision. The executive and legislative branches could transparently use polling and focus groups -- the same marketing tools they use to get elected -- to forge with the people of Minnesota shared priorities. If it's not a priority, it's not the work and expense of government.
That’s a good caution for the Governor’s Tax Commission and a State Budget Trends Commission as they prepare to offer recommendations into the teeth of a fiscal north wind. They’ll have plenty of good ideas and bi-partisan support, but they will likely suffer from lack of follow-through.
We like to blame revenue shortfalls for causing the urgency that shoves aside important work. But actually, impoverished vision is the precursor to empty coffers and ineffectiveness. Without a long-term strategic perspective and unblinking measurement of progress, it’s easy to run into the ditch.
That’s what happened as a result of the last big budget crisis.
Back in 1991 under Governor Arne Carlson, the state initiated a remarkable report called Minnesota Milestones. In straightforward language and 70 clearly presented measures, it informed citizens and policy makers about the state’s progress against 19 strategic goals.
As Schubert suggests, such an effort could be even more effective today in setting priorities and establishing accountability. But new accountability initiatives that cost money are unlikely this year — even if they pay us back in the future many-fold.
Minnesota Milestones is no help, either. It became a 2002 casualty of budget cuts, and ever since, reports of our progress have been subject to spin, partisan interpretation and selective memory.
So now we get to watch history repeat itself.
— Charlie Quimby
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