Minnesotans are healthier, wealthier and better educated than at the start of the decade, but the state's quality of life is under increasing pressure. That's the message from Minnesota Milestones 1998: Measures That Matter, a state assessment prepared by Minnesota Planning.
The report uses 70 progress indicators to determine whether the state has moved closer to 19 wide-ranging goals for Minnesota's people, economy, community life, government and environment. For example, progress toward the goal of health is gauged by such indicators as health insurance coverage, life expectancy, premature death and infant mortality.
The 1998 report shows that Minnesota has outpaced the nation in economic growth and standard of living, has improved academic achievement, multiplied outdoor recreational opportunities, improved the health of its people and expanded support for those in need.
However, on some goals the state has not fared as well in the 1990s. The environment, while generally of good quality, is under mounting pressure. More families are facing acute problems. The economies of some urban and rural areas remain under stress. Fewer people are exercising their right to vote.
"Minnesota is doing remarkably well on many fronts, but needs to pay attention to some warning signs if we are to sustain our quality of life," said Ann Schluter, director of Minnesota Planning, the state's long-range planning agency.
Minnesota Milestones 1998 provides not only a compilation of 70 important trends, but also an analysis of how those trends affect Minnesota's long-range goals.
A sampling of positive trends that show progress and national leadership:
Minnesota's economy grew 22.5 percent from 1990 to 1996, adjusted for inflation, compared to 14.5 percent for the United States.
Minnesota median family income has risen to 9 percent above the U.S. median.
The number of counties losing population dropped from 49 in the 1980s to 19 counties thus far in the 1990s.
Eighty-four percent of Minnesota adults are employed, the highest rate in the country.
An estimated 28 percent of Minnesota adults had a four-year college degree in 1997, up from 22 percent in 1990.
More households - 75 percent - own their own homes than in any other state.
The teen pregnancy rate has fallen 17 percent since 1990.
Infant mortality, adult smoking and urban air pollution are down.
Nearly two-thirds of Minnesotans report doing volunteer work.
More than 90 percent of citizens report feeling safe all or most of the time, and the rate of serious crime has declined slightly since 1992.
Minnesotans increased recycling to 39 percent of all solid waste in 1996. A number of indicators show the need to reverse negative trends and manage growing pressures:
Stress on the state's lakes, rivers, forests and air quality is rising from strong economic growth, population growth and land development.
Compared to 1990, Minnesotans are using more energy and water, driving more miles and generating more solid waste per person.
Reports of runaway youths are up sharply and child abuse is up slightly.
Juvenile apprehensions for serious crimes are above the national rate.
Fewer than half of the state's African American, American Indian and Hispanic students graduate from high school on time.
Twice as many Minnesotans are using homeless shelters as in 1990.
Unemployment rates in northern Minnesota persist at nearly five percentage points above the Twin Cities area. Minnesota Milestones was created in 1991 by Governor Arne H. Carlson as an early model for outcome measurement to hold government accountable for results. It is used by government agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, local communities and individuals to understand where the state is headed. Some organizations use it for developing their own performance measurement systems.
