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Frank Germann      Response 14

Question 14: Assuming no overall tax increase, how should the tax burden be shifted to better reflect the needs of Minnesota? Explain one example.

I would shift the burden to user taxes, such as gasoline tax. Other
examples of user fees are State Park fees and hunting and fishing
licenses. If you want something from the state, you should be willing
to pay for it. This will put the state into competition with other
providers and will promote efficiency.

I see no reason for subsidizing the state colleges and universities
when the private colleges have to go it alone. Unfair! I graduated
from the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology. I think
that the people of this state benefited from my education, but I see
no reason why I shouldn't have been expected to pay the entire cost of
my education, at least after the fact, through student loans. People
that receive the benefits should pay the costs, and the state colleges
and universities are a very major expense in this state.