Similar to a proposal being pushed by Arizona legislators, an economist in Minnesota has cautioned the state over providing too many subsidies and tax incentives to big retailers.
"An economist from the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis told the state House Tax Committee that the best economic policy is to keep taxes low for all businesses and to refuse preferential tax treatment for a few."
"'It should raise red flags to legislators when businesses are coming to you for subsidies,' economist Art Rolnick said."
"The Mall of America is asking Bloomington and the state for $222 million in tax subsidies to help finance a $1.8 billion expansion. In return, mall representatives predicted the project would create 7,000 construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs and would generate $53.8 million a year in new state taxes."
"The economist warned that granting tax breaks to a few big projects would shift tax burdens onto smaller businesses and encourage other private firms to seek public subsidies."
FULL STORY: Economist urges state to reject subsidies

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
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Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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