Businesses of all types and sizes across Minnesota are increasingly challenged to compete in the global economy. It's not getting easier, as witnessed firsthand from those who take the risks to start and grow companies. Chief Executive just released its "2016 Best and Worst States for Business." Minnesota ranked 34th, dropping three spots from last year.

The annual survey measures CEO perceptions of how conducive each state is to successfully conducting business. They consider three criteria: taxes and regulations, workforce quality, and living environment. As the survey notes, in most companies, CEOs make the ultimate decisions about where to locate and/or expand the business, making their perceptions of each state critically important.

In this case, CEO perceptions reflect the reality of the challenges that face those doing business in our state. As a John Deere dealer in southern Minnesota, my business does not have the luxury of moving out of the state, because it is tied to a specific trade area. It is dependent on fair legislation that creates a positive business environment.

The Minnesota Chamber's Minnesota Business Benchmarks — a collection of key economic indicators that measure the state's competitiveness and the health of our economy — clearly tout the state's quality of life and talented workforce. But the marks for overall business and economic climate are decidedly mixed, and our cost burdens rank among the highest in the nation in many categories. Most troubling among the indicators, the state's job creation and income growth continue to lag the nation. We have work to do to make Minnesota ready for the future — ready for change and ready to grow.

Gov. Mark Dayton can send a small but important signal in advancing a more business-friendly, pro-growth strategy by convening a special session of the Legislature to pass the omnibus tax bill that he pocket-vetoed after adjournment. The bill was not perfect, but it did provide much-needed tax relief for small businesses, farmers and Minnesotans overall. It passed with broad, bipartisan support. Nearly 90 percent of House and Senate members supported it.

For months, the governor has been critical of the Legislature for not working across party lines. On the tax bill, it did — only to have the bill vetoed. That's not the positive reinforcement the Legislature needs right now. Nor will it help to accomplish another one of the governor's major objectives: a transportation finance bill.

Getting a transportation bill passed will require compromise. The business community and many legislators understand this. The governor needs to show that he does, too. A special session is not only an opportunity to make our state more competitive on taxes and transportation, but it's also a chance for policymakers to show they can lead by working together.

Let's work together to build on the state's strengths and minimize its weaknesses that are undermining our growth. Let's begin by convening a special session and passing a tax bill to send a positive signal to employers, workers and taxpayers that Minnesota is working on a pro-growth strategy to reduce uncompetitive cost burdens.

Mike Milstead is vice president and a shareholder of Ag Power Enterprises in Owatonna and is a member of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce board of directors.