Ventura pushes

his tax proposal

Citizens voice budget concern to Ventura during visit to St. Peter

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PETER -- Gov. Jesse Ventura toured several businesses in St. Peter on Thursday, meeting locals and pushing his tax reform proposal.

Ventura focused on his plans to scale back increases in education, cutting income and property taxes, while expanding the sales tax to most service-oriented businesses.

While making his walking tour of two blocks in downtown St. Peter, Ventura signed autographs, posed for pictures, and fought for his tax proposals.

Jerry Hawbaker, St. Peter mayor, said the visit marked Ventura's first official trip to town. Hawbaker was interested in hearing more about Ventura's proposals.

"He's brought forward a lot of good issues," Hawbaker said. "And there's a lot of room for compromise."

Ventura said he has driven through St. Peter numerous times, adding that his wife, Terry, is a Vernon Center native.

"I came through town and saw all the devastation," Ventura said, referring to the March 1998 tornado. "I know what it looked like before the storm and after."

Several area residents challenged Ventura on his funding proposals. Dawn Sandborg of St. Peter told the governor that her daughter's Mankato charter school must make deep funding cuts if his budget passes.

"I think we will lose out on the future," Sandborg said, as her daughter, Ciari, stood beside her. Sandborg said the funding cuts will cause larger classrooms with fewer teachers.

Ventura pointed out the education budget does increase, but not at the levels school officials expect. He added that the Legislature has increased school funding by 100.7 percent in the past 10 years.

"There are no more kids in school today than in 1990," Ventura said. "There are no cuts. That is just the media misrepresenting."

Sandborg suggested that the money aimed at a rebate be put into schools. Ventura replied that it is a dangerous precedent to put one-time monies into a funding formula, saying it would immediately cause deficits the following year.

Terry Morrow of St. Peter told Ventura that St. Peter Public Schools will have no new dollars under the proposed state budget. However, inflation and pay increases will raise the district's budget by more than $200,000.

John Wodele, Ventura's press secretary, noted that many rural districts are forced to make cuts because of declining enrollment. Those reductions would happen even if the governor's budget called for more school funding, Wodele said.

Ventura said districts across the state must examine the importance of non-teaching positions, such a paraprofessionals and other support staff.

"Can that be lowered? Let's find out," he said.

Under Ventura's plan, the sales tax would be lowered to 6 percent but expanded to include services like auto repair and haircuts.

Ventura stopped at a barbershop, joking that he was going to get his head polished. George Lesnar, who has operated the shop for 51 years, told Ventura that he doesn't support the sales tax plan.

Ventura explained that Lesnar will have lower property taxes and will keep more of his income under his plan.

"The price of government will go down in my budget," Ventura said. "We're going to try and make it fair. I don't think it's a tough sell when all the information is out."

James Brandt, an attorney and St. Peter city councilor, also told the governor he doesn't support expanding sales tax to law services.

"When people come and see us, it's a matter of necessity," Brandt told Ventura. "I have the little clients. I'm not representing the rich folk."

It is unclear how Ventura's proposals will fare in the Legislature. Democrats have been cool to his plans to lower funding increases for schools, while many Republicans have spoke against expanding the sales tax.

Ventura continues his visit to the area today with a morning meeting with media at the AmericInn in St. Peter and the broadcasting of Lunch with the Governor at 11 a.m. from a farm near Norseland.