Rep. Downey Hosting Budget, Reform Workshops

In light of ongoing debate at the Minnesota Capitol over budget issues and reform initiatives, State Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina) will be partnering with the Citizens League of Minnesota to create a pair of community dialogues.

Downey and the Citizens League are hosting a pair of nonpartisan workshops in March geared toward helping Edina residents learn about and discuss the enormous state budget and reform challenges ahead. The workshops are intended to be fun, informative and interactive, according to a release. Participants can be tax experts, or can know absolutely nothing about the state budget.

The first workshop—which will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 19, at the —will focus primarly on balancing the state's budget. Citizens will be asked what prorities and strategies they believe are important in solving the state's budget challenges.

The second of the two workshops will switch things up, focusing more on tax reform within Minnesota. It will cover who pays and how much, various types of taxes, what isn't taxed and what's most important for reform. It is scheduled to run from 6:30-8 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 26, at the .

Both workshops are free of charge and residents do not have to sign up ahead of time to participate.