From the Savage Pacer

Editor’s note: The following is a platform letter submitted by Jon Ulrich, who is running for re-election as Scott County Commissioner in District 5, which includes all of Savage. Election Day is Tuesday Nov. 4.

Ulrich touts low taxes, business growth and transportation progess

It is an honor for me to serve the residents of Savage as their Scott County Commissioner. I am devoted to doing all I can to make Savage and Scott County an even better place to live, learn, work, play and raise our families.

When I was first elected I did not know that a Scott County Commissioner has the opportunity and responsibility to serve on a wide variety of committees and boards across the region that influence the policies and plans of our county and region. Today, I invest my time and efforts in working on over twenty-five committees that all have an impact on your life in one-way or another. I would like to highlight just one example of what my committee work has accomplished and is worthy of celebrating.  On the Metropolitan Council Transportation Advisory Board I led the debate that secured a vital piece of funding that allowed the 494/169 interchange to be built. This project removed a major transportation bottleneck that saves you and I a tremendous amount of time each day. In my committee work I have also had a key role in securing funding and commitments for transportation projects at Highway 13 & County 5 and Highway 13 & Highway 101 and the just started 101 River Bridge project. As a result of these projects, in just the past two years, we have seen dozens of businesses invest more than 450 million dollars and create 3,500 new, livable wage jobs in our county. These new jobs have driven down unemployment in the County and in July the State reported that, at only 3.9%, Scott County had the lowest unemployment rate in the metropolitan area.

As your commissioner, I have also targeted my energy at holding the line on spending and managing the tax levy, attracting and retaining businesses and jobs and improving our transportation infrastructure.  Over the past six years we have held the line on spending and a recent State Auditor’s report showed Scott County as having the lowest rate of expenditure per capita in the metropolitan area and third lowest in the state.  The County’s tax levy, over the past five years, has increased at only six tenths of one percent annually; which is well below the level of inflation and growth.  

If re-elected I would continue my focus on limiting government and taxes, advancing our transportation needs, and working with the business community to grow our economy and create jobs.