Chamber gathers business feedback for Legislature

A recent Brainerd Lakes Chamber member survey, prompted by a request from Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, to distribute a survey from the small business caucus, generated the most vehement and focused responses to any Chamber survey in the past 15 years, the chamber reported.

As the 2010 legislative session is about to begin, nearly 90 percent of respondents said that cutting government spending is the way to balance the state budget. The No. 1 thing the Legislature can do to help small business succeed is to lower taxes, the survey reported. Survey respondents said the number one thing the government should stop doing is adding regulations and giving away free money.

The chamber reported the message was clear to reduce taxes and create an environment for businesses to succeed. What types of government assistance are least helpful to small businesses? Two clear items were noted time and time again - regulation and subsidy programs.

A respondent summarized a litmus test for legislators to use when evaluating decisions that affect business in Minnesota, the chamber resported "Every activity that draws a business away from its core purpose of providing a product or service is a drag on its ability to compete in the global marketplace. We need to find ways to make creativity, innovation, and productivity streamlined, more cost effective and easier."

More than 60 percent of respondents have frozen wages, cut back scheduled employee hours, and reduced the purchase of outside contract services in response to the recession.

To weather this storm more than 80 percent have not received government assistance, looking to private professional services and lenders.

"Decreasing revenue has prompted business to make significant changes in how they operate and they are expecting government to do the same," Lisa Paxton, chamber chief executive officer said in a news release. "This challenging economic time is an opportunity for government to learn from businesses and identify opportunities that focus on needs vs. wants and promote a 'lean' operating system that focuses on efficiency and avoids unnecessary, burdensome regulation and associated fees. The tough decisions and operational improvements that businesses have made can be shared with government to help them adapt to operating in these challenging times."

These and other business concerns are expected to be discussed during the chamber's Eggs 'n' Issues meeting with legislators 7:45-9:30 a.m. Jan. 8 at The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes, Baxter. The cost is $15 per person chamber members and $25 per person for non-members and includes a breakfast buffet.

The Minnesota Legislative Small Business Survey was emailed to 891 of the primary representatives - owners and/or managers - of Brainerd Lakes Chamber business members in November, of those 16 percent responded (144). These results are being shared with state and federal legislators, cities, counties, school districts, Central Lakes College, other chambers in the area, Minnesota Chamber, chamber members and the community during the next month.

A link to the full survey report is online at

http://explorebrainerdlakes.com/chambers/training/chamber-positions.htm