Legislative Town Hall Meeting in Apple Valley Draws Crowd of Opinionated Constituents

State Sen. Chris Gerlach (R-Apple Valley) and Reps. Kurt Bills (R-Rosemount) and Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley) stepped out of their state Capitol building hub on Thursday, breaking from work on budget bills to connect with their constituents en masse.

In a packed dining room at the American Legion Post 1776 in Apple Valley, residents of Apple Valley, Burnsville and Rosemount brought up a range of topics with their three legislators, each of whom represents at least part of Apple Valley.

Residents asked for legislator opinions on racinos and for action on dental insurance monopolies, but the topics that stirred the crowd most related to education finance and reform, and to who should bear the state tax burden.

While the discussion remained civil, the room lit up at mention of wealthier Minnesotans paying more taxes, as it did as different audience members and legislators addressed whether education reform efforts would benefit students and just how current proposals would impact school district staff.

Gerlach said he'd "never had this kind of turnout" at any town hall meetings he'd held before.

Bills, Gerlach and Mack explained some House and Senate budget proposals, which work toward eliminating a $5 billion state deficit largely by making cuts.

Gerlach said the Senate’s health and human services budget bill proposal would cut $1.6 billion from that area, which would lessen the department’s projected spending increase but not eliminate it, holding it to a 6 percent increase.

“Nobody is finding joy in doing that,” Gerlach said. “It is extraordinarily difficult.”

Mack said she generally believes the state doesn’t have a revenue problem, but that issues lie within increases in government expenses. Revenue for the next biennium is projected at nearly $34 billion, or about $4 billion more than the 2010-11 biennium, she said, but projected government expenditures would be at $39 billion.

The decisions being made at the Capitol are difficult ones, Mack said, but said she believes there’s a “need to create more independence.”

She told attendees she was open to hearing ideas and solutions for how to balance the budget.