MinnPost reports today that many libraries in northeastern Minnesota are seeing increases in book and DVD check-outs and internet usership as more and more families are looking to cut their entertainment budgets. At the same time, cuts to LGA are forcing many cities to reduce library budgets, which affects library purchasing budgets and library hours.

Libraries are a valuable gathering place for communities across the state. To ensure that libraries have adequate funding for their services, contact your legislators and the governor and tell them to protect LGA.

Like many Minnesota cities, St. Cloud has implemented a hiring freeze in response to the economic downturn and recent LGA cuts. As a result, St. Cloud may not be able to hire the additional police officers or support staff that its newly constructed, larger police department headquarters was meant to accommodate, according to the St. Cloud Times. The city had intended to hire an additional six police officers and numerous support staff positions as part of the police department headquarters project to meet the city’s growing safety needs. These increases were on top of the city’s regular staffing levels; however, the police department is currently down five police officers, four full-time community services officers, and 14 part-time community services officers from these regular levels.

LGA has taken several hits over the past few years, making it difficult for cities to reclaim their loses from the previous round of cuts. Collectively, cities manage a 6% smaller workforce today than they did back in 2003, and this has affected police forces, library staffs, lifeguards, and firefighters alike. Meanwhile, there is a greater demand for the services that cities provide. Without adequate LGA funding, many cities will struggle to meet the needs of their residents in the upcoming years. If you value the safety of your community, contact your legislators and the governor today, and tell them to protect LGA next session.

According to the Mankato Free Press, the Mankato library will drop its Sunday hours and lose 14% of its purchasing budget for new books and other materials as a result of the city’s LGA cuts. Reductions in library services may get worse after the county, which also supports the library and took a cut to its state aid, releases its budget.

The governor’s recent unallotment of LGA is having an immediate impact in communities across the state. To support the services that keep your community a safe, affordable, and attractive place to live, contact your legislators and the governor today and tell them to protect LGA funding next session.

The City of Red Wing is concerned that it won’t be able to afford the increased emergency personnel needed to respond to a potential nuclear emergency at the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant. The power plant recently sought permission from the state to increase its energy output and allow the facility to provide more dry storage for its nuclear waste. With this growth comes increased risk for a nuclear emergeny, which will require the city to provide more emergency personnel to respond to a potential disaster. Coupled with other factors, recent losses in LGA have the city concerned that they won’t be able to adequately protect residents from these increased risks because their emergency personnel units are already understaffed. To learn more, view the video below from KTTC Rochester.

At yesterday’s Legislative Advisory Commission meeting, State Economist Tom Stinson provided a discouraging estimate of the jobs that will be lost due to the governor’s unallotment plan: 3,300 to 4,700. Among other sectors, these job losses will affect workers in local governments, such as police officers, firefighters, librarians, park workers, and more. Workers aren’t the only losers in the unallotment aftermath; lost jobs translates into lost services, and city residents will have to cope with longer response times to emergencies, fewer hours at local libraries, less safe city beaches, and less frequently plowed roads.

As cities plan their budgets in response to the governor’s unallotment of LGA, be sure to keep checking in with Thank LGA. Cutting LGA will have significant impacts to Minnesota’s communities, and we plan to bring those stories into the light.