Dear Tax Fighter,

The Taxpayers League has learned that the House Republican leadership plans to support Governor Ventura's scheme to spend the state surplus on providing 100% state funding of local education.

The Taxpayers League adamantly opposes such a proposal for several reasons:

1. Surplus Stolen — The surplus should be returned to taxpayers, not used for another huge increase in state spending.
   
2. Spending Explosion — If the state takes over 100% of education funding, it will guarantee a double-digit increase in the state budget and increase the baseline for future state spending.
   
3. Higher Taxes — This proposal will result in higher taxes now and into the future as the state budget will have to be increased dramatically to cover this massive spending increase. No one believes the argument that local property taxes will actually decrease over time as a result of such a proposal. Experience shows that local units will simply fill the void, leaving taxpayers paying the same or more in property taxes - in addition higher state taxes.
   
4. Loss of Local Control of Education — As the old adage goes, the one who pays the fiddler calls the tune. Doubtless, local school boards and parents will have less say in education if the state takes over funding of education. The next move will be to negotiate teacher contracts statewide, making pay uniform from Baudette to Burnsville.

Of course, some lawmakers are going to try to characterize this big increase in state education spending as "property tax relief." That's what they tried to do when they passed a property tax "buy down" four years ago.

They should remember that taxpayers weren't fooled four years ago by such baloney. They responded by voting out several incumbents, and even went so far as to change who controlled the majority of the house.

Lawmakers with short memories might pay the price again if they make a similar attempt to fool taxpayers. They should do the right thing. Return the surplus, and cut income taxes across the board.

Sincerely,