Editorial writers from across the state are weighing in on the need to protect LGA during the governor’s unallotment. Here’s what they’re saying:

Albert Lea Tribune:

Our fair governor has national ambitions. By using his powers of unallotment and line-item veto, he is sidestepping a state budget formed in a populist and more democratic manner and going it alone. 

Detroit Lakes Online:

These days, the thought of Gov. Tim Pawlenty clutching his “unallotment” knife is enough to make local government officials wake up screaming. Everybody else should be screaming too, and they may well start once they see how losing LGA hurts their quality of life.

Mankato Free Press:

We are in great need to answer the central question before us and in the years ahead. The real question the governor should be asking Minnesotans is: What kind of state do we want and how much are we willing to pay as individual citizens to achieve it?

Crookston Times:

To erase a deficit that massive without leaving local governments and school districts high and dry and cutting programs that help people who need the help most, you need some additional revenue, and that should come through taxes, not borrowing. And tax opponents, just you wait, your property taxes will go up next year as a result of this year’s insanity in St. Paul, as local governments realize that they need more revenue to offer the services that people need and want.

This afternoon, Governor Pawlenty invited ordinary Minnesotans to weigh in on the services that should be protected from the unallotment ax. Thank LGA encourages you to contact the governor at his newly created email address, budgetideas@state.mn.us, and tell him to protect LGA.

LGA is what keeps communities across the state strong and affordable. Under the governor’s original proposal, cities will see huge cuts in this funding, which will result in both property tax increases and cuts to essential services, such as police, fire protection, libraries, and parks. The unallotment process, which is a result of the legislature and the governor failing to reach a final budget deal, leaves LGA’s future in Governor Pawlenty’s hands. That’s why it’s more important now than ever to contact the governor and urge him to keep the state’s commitment to strong, affordable communities.

LGA is what keeps Minnesota’s communities safe and strong, but if Governor Pawlenty’s proposed cuts to LGA take effect, Winona plans to lose 2 to 3 police officers. Cutting LGA will jeopardize public safety in cities across the state and take Minnesota in the wrong direction. If you value safe communities, contact Governor Pawlenty and your legislators, and tell them to protect LGA.

Governor Pawlenty’s plan to balance Minnesota’s budget unilaterally without legislative oversight will risk LGA and devastate communities across the state. Nobody has said it better than Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden, president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, who provided the following statement to the press:

The real losers in this failure to compromise are the property taxpayers and Minnesota families who depend on critical city services such as police, fire protection, libraries, and safe roads.

Thank LGA believes the governor’s plan to balance the budget by himself risks the state’s fiscal health and future viability. This is unacceptable. The governor and the legislature must come to a budget agreement in which both parties are accountable for the outcome.

Last week, Thank LGA held a press conference in Richfield with homeowners who are concerned about their rising property taxes. Twin Cities channels KSMP Fox 9 News and KSTP TV both have stories.

As a result of reduced state aid, property taxpayers across the state have seen their taxes jump 65% over the past six years. During the same time period, local governments have actually spent LESS on city services such as police, fire protection, parks, and libraries. How can this be? Total city and town revenue, which includes property tax payments and state aid, has significantly decreased since 2002, in large part due to years of underfunding property tax relief programs like LGA. Even the large property tax increases haven’t been enough to recover lost LGA, and in the end, this means property taxpayers are paying more and getting less in return.

The state’s budget deficit is daunting, and cities are willing to play a part in the budget-balancing solution. However, deep cuts to LGA—such as those proposed by Governor Pawlenty—will weaken our communities and shift additional tax burden to property taxpayers. If affordable, safe, and strong communities are important to you, contact your legislators and the governor and tell them to support LGA.

Homeowners gathered Wednesday night to voice their frustration with rising property taxes and called on the state to protect property tax relief programs such as LGA from the budget ax. Joining homeowners were Richfield Mayor Debbie Goettel and property tax expert Jeff Van Wychen.

The Star Tribune reported over the weekend that emergency response fees have recently emerged on several city council agendas. Emergency response fees, assessed for things such as fire protection or car accidents that require paramedic services, would help some cities maintain the level and quality of essential services in light of possible LGA cuts. At the same time, however, these fees may discourage citizens in emergency situations from calling for help.

On a public policy level, emergency response fees will increase the disparities that exist amongst cities and their residents, and the extra costs will make some cities less attractive places to live or do business than others. Reducing these disparities is why the LGA program was created in the first place. No matter what corner of the state you live in, you have a right to essential services at an affordable price. Implementing emergency response fees haphazardly across the state is a clear indicator that reducing LGA will create losers and winners when it comes to quality of life services.

If you believe that emergency response fees will take our cities in the wrong direction, contact the governor and your legislators. Tell them that cities need LGA to ensure all residents receive essential services at an affordable price.