Entire state should be benefactors

Published Saturday, March 31, 2007

The public works bill passed by the House Tuesday night greatly benefits the Twin Cities, Duluth and the Red Lake Indian reservation, but it doesn’t do much for taxpayers in the rest of the state.

While the argument against mass transit in the Twin Cities could fill three or four editorial pages, there are two projects in the public works bill that should be particularly disappointing for taxpayers.

Of the $289 million in projects on the bill, two projects worth $60 million total — $30 million for upgrades to the Duluth Convention Center, and $30 million for school construction on the Red Lake Indian reservation — benefit only a very small, select group of people.

State funding for public works projects makes sense when it goes to construction or upgrade that benefits or will benefits a larger region or — better yet — the entire state.

With so many state agencies holding their hands out, legislators need to prioritize and spend state money on projects with greater impact.

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