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Minnetonka business survey: owners upbeat on climate but cite taxes and costs as top concerns
Summary
A consultant told the Minnetonka EDAC that a phone-based survey of 400 businesses found 98% rate the local business climate positively, while 64% identified city property taxes as a very or somewhat serious concern. Staff will fold the findings into the Economic Improvement Plan.
Peter Leatherman, a public-opinion researcher with Morris Leatherman Company, told the Minnetonka Economic Development Advisory Commission on March 20 that his firm spoke with 400 randomly selected residents, business owners and managers between Jan. 16 and Feb. 12 to update the city’s business survey. Leatherman said the survey is projectable to the local business population with a margin of error of about ±5 percent at the 95 percent confidence level and an average interview time of 17 minutes.
The survey showed overwhelmingly positive sentiment about the local economy: 98 percent of respondents rated the city’s business climate positively and roughly 95 percent were somewhat or very optimistic about their business’s future. "The rating of the business climate in the community, 98% are positive," Leatherman said during his presentation. At the same time, respondents identified the cost of doing business and broader economic conditions as the most serious issues; 64 percent flagged city property taxes as a very or somewhat serious concern.
Why it matters: staff told the commission the results will inform the city’s Economic Improvement Plan (EIP) and near-term outreach priorities, including communications and program promotion. Staff said high service ratings (98–100 percent for city responsiveness and services) can offset some tax concerns if the city better communicates the value residents and business owners receive.
Key details: Leatherman reported that 43 percent of businesses have operated in Minnetonka for more than 20 years and only 6 percent were less than five years old; the typical business reported about 12 full-time and six part-time employees. Two-thirds of employees live in Minnetonka, and the typical employee commute was about 17–18 minutes. Businesses reported taking sustainability steps at varying rates — for example, 42 percent reported a building energy audit, 34 percent reported waste-reduction efforts and about a third reported energy efficiency upgrades.
Commissioners used the presentation to press staff on outreach to newer and smaller businesses and how the city might increase awareness of programs. One commissioner urged the EDAC to "overweight the outreach to newer businesses" to surface needs that longer-established firms do not report. Staff recommended using the city’s Thrive newsletter and linked digital tools to raise awareness of programs; Leatherman suggested using concise print and QR-linked summaries to reach those who prefer physical mail.
Next steps: staff said the survey results will be incorporated into the May draft of the EIP and presented to the city council as part of the plan process. Commissioners were asked to return feedback and suggested discussion questions to staff before the May 8 EDAC meeting.
