Don Samuels Reacts to Mayor Rybak’s Budget Address

Thursday, August 15, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patrick Layden 603-809-7252

Don Samuels Reacts to Mayor Rybak’s Budget Address

Minneapolis, MN: Today, Mayor RT Rybak released a budget proposal that will lower the property tax burden on residents of Minneapolis for the first time in many years, while still investing in transit, public safety, population growth, sustainability and development.

Mayor Rybak outlined a series of very tough decisions over the course of a decade that put Minneapolis in the right financial position to take some of the pressure off of property taxes, and that without even one of those decisions, today’s announcement would not have been possible.  They include controlling spending, paying down debt, reforming the city’s pensions, increasing efficiency of service delivery, and the financial package surrounding the Viking’s stadium deal, which took $5 Million of tax burden per year off the city budget and increased control over sales tax revenue.  While noting that property taxes would be as much as 35% higher without all of these decisions, Mayor Rybak singled out Don Samuels as the only “stalwart” and “rock-solid” partner on every single issue.

“There has been a lot of talk in this campaign about property taxes and the burden they are placing on families,” said Samuels, “But I am the only candidate in this race who was willing to join Mayor Rybak in making the tough calls to actually do something about it.  I am proud to have stood by the Mayor through every difficult decision it took to get us here, and we are seeing the fruits of those decisions here today.”

Samuels’ campaign manager, Patrick Layden added, “Today’s news only makes it clearer that Don Samuels is the only candidate in this race with the judgment this city needs in a leader, and the courage to lead, even when it’s not easy.”

Don Samuels is the 5th Ward Council Member in Minneapolis, and a candidate for Mayor. 

###