In just a little over a month, an effort to unite Minnesota mayors “to advocate for policies that protect taxpayers and strengthen local communities” has grown from eight mayors to 241.
In a Dec. 1 letter, eight mayors representing communities in the Brainerd Lakes Area sounded the alarm on Minnesota’s “economic decline.” The coalition grew to 98 signatures in a Dec. 22 letter, as the signatories warned that recent property tax spikes “stem directly from state policies, mandates, and cost shifts that leave cities with no choice but to pass these burdens onto homeowners and businesses.”
“This is not a partisan issue. Fraud and economic policies that hurt working families, businesses, and local governments impact every Minnesotan—regardless of political affiliation,” said Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst, who is leading the coalition.
“When fraud goes unchecked and policy decisions ignore real-world consequences, cities are left to absorb the costs, and those costs are ultimately passed on to residents,” he added.
According to Purfeerst, the group of 241 mayors represent “a combined population of 1,092,189 Minnesotans” and “have united to call out fraud, failed economic policies, and the lack of accountability that continues to burden taxpayers statewide.”
“These mayors represent communities large and small, urban and rural, from every corner of Minnesota. While their cities differ in size and geography, their message is unified: state-level decisions are driving higher costs, weakening public trust, and shifting financial burdens directly onto local taxpayers,” said Purfeerst, who described the coalition as “unprecedented.”
Some of the cities that signed on include Alexandria, Blaine, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Deephaven, Delano, Elk River, Forest Lake, Lakeville, Medina, Red Wing, Rosemount, Sartell, Shakopee, South St. Paul, Waconia, Wayzata, West St. Paul, and Willmar.
“Fraud, unchecked spending, and inconsistent fiscal management in St. Paul have trickled down to our cities—reducing our capacity to plan responsibly, maintain infrastructure, hire and retain employees, and sustain core services without overburdening local taxpayers,” the letter itself states.
“Our residents deserve better than deficits, economic decline, and policies that push families and businesses away. We, as mayors, can only support our cities for so long before the heavy hand of state mandates and financial pressure demands more than our communities can provide,” adds the letter, which is addressed to Gov. Tim Walz and state lawmakers.
Purfeerst announced Monday that he will be doing one more signature addition to the letter, urging residents to contact their mayors and have them sign by Jan. 30.
