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MICHAEL MARTENS CANDIDATE FOR BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND TAXATION
By Luke Hellier | November 2, 2009
This last weekend I spent some time talking with Michael Martens who is the Republican and Star Tribune endorsed candidate for the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) in Minneapolis.
Michael has spent most of his career working in private business in accounting and auditing. Â When asked about his signature proposals for his candidacy he highlighted two key areas. Â The first, he pledged to only allow property tax increases to match inflation. Â Mayor Rybak’s previous budget averaged over an 8% increase over the last several years. Â This plan would help the already struggling community to prevent property taxes from sky-rocketing in the next few years.
Secondly, Martens made a point that Minneapolis needs a more concise auditing process, which in an MPR interview today Mayor Rybak also supports. Â Currently, Hennepin County has a staff of 10 auditors while the city of Minneapolis only has one. Â Martens said there is cause for concern because the Minnesota State Auditor’s office found several issues with the city of Minneapolis’s budget and expenditures.
As the Star Tribune notes:
“But [Martens] with an MBA in finance from the University of Minnesota and with decades of professional experience in finance and accounting, his green eyeshade expertise would be welcome. He also was the most outspoken about the hard budget choices that must be made as the city and state stare down huge budget problems. And in a city known for demographic diversity but political uniformity, he would be a relative rarity as an elected official who lists the Republican and Independence parties as his political affiliation.” Star Tribune 10/29/09.
Furthermore, Martens urged Minneapolis voters to make sure they vote NO on the city’s amendment to eliminate the BET.  The council, with support of the Mayor, voted earlier this year to eliminate the BET.  Martens assured me for there to be more clear transparency in Minneapolis government the BET is an essential piece.
To read more information about Martens’ background you can visit his campaign website here.
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