OACCT Public Policy Committee Outlines 2013 Agenda with City Council

OACCT President Brad Meier and Public Policy
committee members Andy Michaeltz and Steve Kath
thank City Council for their LEAN efficiency efforts
 in 2012 and present Policy's 2013 Legislative Agenda.

The Chamber's Public Policy committee thanked the City Council for their LEAN efficiency efforts made in 2012 at their Dec. 18th meeting.

Chamber President Brad Meier also shared the Chamber's 2013 Legislative Agenda so Council could see where local business interests and issues will stack up next year.

2013 Goals and Issues:
Public Policy to attend 90% of all City Council meetings and report to the membership via website blog posting.

Top Issues:

• City Efficiency: continue the LEAN process improvement plan at the City of Owatonna started in 2010 and funded by two grants obtained by the Chamber (complete a total of 8 process improvements).
• City Budget Process: advocate costs alignment directly with programming and a plan for reduction in Local Government Aid (LGA).
• School District: Share business community’s input on future school district proposals; represent business in the superintendant search, potential levy and actively represent business and area workforce development in potential budget cuts.
• Property taxes: be watchful of public sector’s proposals, purposes and gains for tax payers.  Identify as much quality for business in property taxes increase proposals, if it’s not there, oppose the increase.