Candidates talk about state mandates

The Dodge County election series is back. As voters get ready to vote on crucial local races the DCI will be asking candidates for local, county, school district, and state house seats a question each week leading up to the Nov. 3 election. The goal of the series is for voters to understand where candidates stand on various issues. Dodge County Attorney, and County Commissioner candidates will answer questions on opposite weeks to accommodate space. Unopposed candidates will not be participating in the weekly series. Suggestions on questions can be submitted to dcielections@gmail.com

Dodge County Commissioners

Question of the Week:

One of the major challenges counties cite when it comes to budgets is the number of unfunded mandates which come from St. Paul. If elected how would you work with your local legislators to address these challenges.
 

District 2 
Troy Stafford

One of the most important responsibilities of a County Commissioner is to be a strong advocate for local taxpayers while working collaboratively with our state legislators. Unfunded mandates from the State can place significant pressure on county budgets and ultimately shift costs to local property taxpayers.
If elected, I would work for a more proactive working relationship with our local legislators and regularly communicate the financial impact that mandates are having on Dodge County. As a CPA and longtime senior financial leader, I understand the importance of identifying the true cost of programs and using accurate financial data to make a compelling case for change.
It would be my goal to identify the types of mandates and their financial impact with a critical eye, while advocating for greater flexibility to meet those requirements. I would also work with our local legislators to eliminate or modify mandates that no longer provide sufficient public benefit.
I also believe counties should work together through organizations to present a unified voice at the Capitol. We may not agree on every issue, but we can be effective advocates when we demonstrate how state decisions directly affect local services and property taxes.
Ultimately, I would make sure Dodge County has a say and not simply, a bill to pay.

District 2 
Tim Tjosaas

Unfunded mandates continue to be a significant challenge for county government
because they often require counties to provide services without receiving the funding necessary to carry them out. Ultimately, those costs can fall on local taxpayers.
If reelected, I will continue working directly with our local legislators to make sure they understand how decisions made in St. Paul affect Dodge County residents and our county budget. We have developed strong relationships with our legislators through regular communication, visits to the Capitol, and an annual meeting in Dodge County during the legislative session.
These meetings allow commissioners and department heads to provide specific examples of how proposed legislation and unfunded mandates impact county services and taxpayers.
I will also continue working through the Association of Minnesota Counties, which givescounties a stronger, unified voice on statewide issues.
Changing state policy can be difficult, but consistent communication matters. My goal is to provide our legislators with practical, firsthand information so they can better understand the local consequences of state decisions and advocate for appropriate funding when mandates are imposed.

District 4 
Ashley Martin

Unfunded mandates place real pressure on county budgets because they often require local governments to deliver important services without providing the resources needed to pay for them. If elected, I would work proactively with our local legislators by maintaining open, regular communication about how state decisions affect county taxpayers and services. I don’t know how much communication there is on a regular basis, but I would suggest meeting quarterly with legislators just to ensure we are on the same page.
I would focus on sharing data, specific examples, and local stories that show the real impact of unfunded mandates on our county budget, staff capacity, and residents. I would also advocate for greater state funding when new requirements are created, as well as more flexibility for counties to implement programs in ways that fit local needs.
Most importantly, I believe county commissioners, surrounding counties, Association of Minnesota Counties, and legislators should work as partners. Many state goals are important, but they need to be matched with realistic funding and thoughtful implementation. By building strong relationships, communicating early, and presenting solutions, we can better protect local taxpayers while continuing to provide essential county services.

District 4
Rhonda Toquam

Dodge County Commissioners have worked with our State Representatives and Senators for many years. Mostly done by spending a day at the capital. At one time, Dodge County had seven state officials to communicate with. The unfunded mandates was a topic that we frequently discussed with them and shared our concerns and frustrations. A few years ago, due to redistricting, we were able to go from seven to two state officials. This made it much easier to meet with them and spend more time sharing our concerns and frustrations. In the last few years, we have continued to meet with them during a day at the capital, but we also had the chance to meet with the two of them on another planned day and can have more detailed discussions with more time on this topic and others.
It is important to continue to meet with our state officials and bring to attention to matters that they sometimes need a clearer explanation from a county perspective. Helping them understand that one size does not fit all and that rural areas are much different in so many ways than the metro area. We have also communicated with them via email, or phone conversations.
I can confidently say that we have had great relationships with them and have been able to have good conversations and have felt heard by them.

LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES 

Question of the Week:

One of the criticisms often heard about the legislature is the number of unfunded mandates passed in St. Paul. How would you work with cities, school districts, and the county to address these problems if elected?
 

House District 24A
Heather Holmes —
DFL
As a former school board member, I’ve experienced this firsthand. As a legislator, I don’t want to only hear about problems after they hit local budgets. I want to catch them before they become law.
I’ve got a few ideas to address this issue. First, I’ll push for a local fiscal note requirement. This means any bill affecting cities, counties, or school districts should come with a real cost estimate before it gets a floor vote, not after. If we can’t fund a mandate, we shouldn’t pass it without giving local governments the revenue tools to cover it.
Second, I’ll meet with local officials before session starts, not just when problems arise. Groups like The League of Minnesota Cities, Association of Minnesota Counties, and the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) all publish legislative priorities every year. I’ll actually use those. I’ll also hold my own meetings with our cities, counties, and school boards to know what’s on their minds before I’m sitting in committee.
Local officials shouldn’t have to lobby just to avoid getting steamrolled by their own state government, and property owners shouldn’t be constantly on the hook every time the state passes a mandate without paying for it.

House District 24A
Duane Quam — Republican
Did not respond.

SENATE DISTRICT 24
Simon Glaser — 
DFL
In my decades as a teacher and union organizer, I have gained a deep understanding of the necessity of a strong plan — be that a lesson plan for my students, or an action plan at the capitol when advocating for the needs of my fellow teachers and our schools. I see the issue of unfunded mandates in a similar light: we cannot mandate new programs without responsible plans on how we will fund them.
Having said that, I do not believe that this is a question of if our government should take action to support our communities, but how our government can take action while ensuring the cost does not fall on working and middle class families. We need government solutions, but when we drive up property taxes for everyday Minnesotans in the process, we sabotage our own efforts.
Our government has a job to do in serving the needs of Minnesotans at a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet, and as a legislator I would prioritize making sure that work gets done. I believe we can do that, while making sure those very same working Minnesotans aren’t the ones footing the bill.

SENATE DISTRICT 24
Nels Pierson — Republican
During my eight years serving in the Minnesota State House of Representatives, I remember having conversations with County Commissioners and School Board members about the unfunded mandates. Often mandates would be passed down with a one size fits all type of approach, creating more administrative burden, even if the problem being solved was not an issue within our specific area. In the four years that I have been out of office, things have gotten worse. While there were some increases in school funding during that time, there have been 65 new mandates placed on schools. My goal would be to get schools the funding they need while releasing them from the bureaucratic burdens placed upon them from St. Paul.
I have attended a meeting of every township, city council, and county board in Senate District 24. It has been invaluable to me to hear their concerns. I look forward to continuing these conversations if I am fortunate enough to be elected and being a voice and advocate for our local governments at the legislature.