1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

As a Minnesota resident, I appreciate the importance of attracting new businesses and creating jobs. At the same time, I believe we must be responsible stewards of taxpayer money. I am concerned whenever state programs subsidize the utility costs or operating expenses of private businesses, especially businesses that consume extraordinary amounts of electricity or water. Those costs should primarily be the responsibility of the companies that benefit from them. Public incentives should be used carefully and only when taxpayers receive a clear and measurable return on their investment. Any assistance should be transparent, limited in duration, and based on objective performance standards. Minnesota families and local businesses work hard to pay their own bills. They should not be expected to subsidize the routine operating expenses of profitable corporations. Thank you for considering my perspective. I hope you will continue working toward policies that promote both economic opportunity and fiscal responsibility.