Due to recent increases in taxes, our state budget has grown by historic amounts. Based on historical analysis, state spending has increased faster than the rate of inflation over the past 50 years. Had state spending increased at the rate of inflation, our budget would be around $9.5 billion. It is currently more than $50 billion. Corrected for both inflation and population growth, the budget of Minnesota has swollen 600% since 1960. We need to put the brakes on this out-of-control spending and allow decisions about spending to be made at the local level. It’s easier for our citizens to influence spending done by their county board than by the legislature, and we need to return this power to the local level.