To the editor:

Kudos to the Minnesota Association of Counties for offering ideas on government redesign and reform. Everyone talks about it, but they actually have the courage to put forward some ideas.

There are some ideas on the list that Minnesota businesses will oppose - for example, county sales tax and equalization formula. But there are many that we believe will lead to higher quality public services at lower cost. That's the essence of government redesign.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce plans to join the counties and suggest redesign alternatives. We already have done so with respect to environmental review and permitting. More than ever, Minnesota's job growth and high quality of life depend on a comprehensive and persistent effort to redesign our state and local services so we deliver expected results at the same or lower cost per unit.

Talk is cheap, but action can be difficult. Not everyone will agree with every county or chamber idea, but we applaud the Minnesota Association of Counties for stepping forward.

David C. Olson, president of the

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce