• 08Dec

  Mayors respond to governor’s decision to spare LGA from December unallotment

  Events, Firefighters, Jobs, News, Police, Property Taxes, Snowplowing, State Budget, Video No Comments

  St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden, spokesperson for the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, released the following statement in response to Governor Pawlenty’s decision to spare LGA from December unallotment:

  We applaud and thank Governor Pawlenty for recognizing that Minnesota cities have hit the financial edge and additional cuts would jeopardize public safety and do further harm to our fledgling economy.

  Over the past year we have done everything we can to speak out for cities across the state to show how critical services like police, fire, snowplowing, libraries and property taxes have been affected by continued cuts to local government aid.

  Over the past seven years Minnesota cities have lost $754 million in LGA and the consequences have been profound-a 64% increase in property taxes and significant cuts to core services like police, fire, snow plowing and libraries.

  As a major winter storm is bearing down on us, the critical role our cities play in the lives of our citizens is no more apparent than today.  Across the state, cities are battling the storm by plowing streets, dropping salt and doing everything we can to protect the safety of Minnesota families.   All of us know that this comes at a cost.

  We look forward to working with the governor and the legislature in the upcoming session to ensure our cities will continue to be protected.

• 16Sep

  It’s hitting home: Faribault, Alexandria, Minneapolis

  City Stories, Firefighters, It's hitting home, Jobs, News, Police, Property Taxes No Comments

  City councils across the state continue to discuss ways to account for significant losses in LGA, and many are finding that the outcome will mean deep cuts to the services that keep our communities safe and strong and increases in property taxes. Cuts to LGA mean pay more, get less.

  Faribault:
  City seeks $500,000 in cuts, Faribault Daily News, 9/16/09

  The Faribault City Council recently set its preliminary 2010 levy with a maximum 9.95% tax increase. The City Council hopes to drop that figure to 6% by making an additional $500,000 in spending cuts. As City Administrator Tim Madigan commented, ”When you cut down to the basics, you start eliminating not only bodies, but services.” The City of Faribault has lost $845,000 through Governor Pawlenty’s unallotment.

  Alexandria:
  City budget set, Alexandria Echo Press, 9/16/09

  Alexandria Mayor Dan Ness sums up what cities across the state are experiencing as they set their 2010 budgets: “It’s not a spending problem, it’s a revenue problem.” Alexandria lost $226,358 in the final two weeks of 2008 and $206,691 in 2009 through the unallotment of state aid, and stands to lose an additional $476,915 in 2010.

  Minneapolis:
  More Mpls Budget Cuts, More Firefighter Layoffs, Fox 9 News, 9/15/09
  Minneapolis Police Department shuts down narcotics unit, Star Tribune, 9/16/09

  Budget cuts in Minneapolis could lead to the loss of 27 firefighters, potentially resulting in decreased response times and increased health risks to firefighters. Minneapolis has also shut down its narcotics unit in response to budget cuts, making Minneapolis the only major city in the U.S. to not have a dedicated unit to narcotics enforcement.

  Watch the full report from Fox 9 below:

• 11Aug

  It’s hitting home: St. Paul, Bemidji, North Mankato

  City Stories, Firefighters, It's hitting home, Jobs, Libraries, News, Police, Property Taxes No Comments

  As city councils across the state begin their 2010 budgeting discussions, cuts to LGA will force tough decisions, and residents will be confronted with reduced services and increased property taxes.

  Over the next few months, Thank LGA will be bringing these city stories directly to you through our It’s Hitting Home series. The common connection between these stories is clear: cutting LGA results in cuts to essential services and increases in property taxes. LGA is what keeps Minnesota communities strong, and it needs to be protected in 2010.

  St. Paul
  Tax increases, spending cuts proposed for 2010 St. Paul budget, Pioneer Press, 8/11/09

  To address a steep cut in state aid, Mayor Chris Coleman has proposed increasing the city’s levy by 6% and the public works right-of-way assessment by 6.8%. The city may also have to lay off as many as 45 people next year, which will negatively impact the various services they provide.

  Bemidji
  Budget crunch hits city; City Council votes 4-3 to cut one position, Bemidji Pioneer, 8/11/09

  In a contentious decision, the Bemidji City Council voted to eliminate the city’s community development director position. This position performed such tasks as grant-writing, managing the city’s economic development programs, and maintaining communications with the Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning office.

  North Mankato
  North Mankato weighing budget options, Mankato Free Press, 8/11/09

  The City of North Mankato expresses its frustrations with what appears to be an impossible situation: a nearly $500,000 budget hole from lost LGA and few favorable solutions.

• 10Jul

  Red Wing understaffed to respond to potential power plant emergency

  City Stories, Firefighters, Police, Video No Comments

  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.

• 26Jun

  City officials talk about impacts of LGA cuts

  City Stories, Events, Firefighters, Jobs, Libraries, News, Police, Property Taxes No Comments

  City officials gathered in St. Paul this week for the annual League of Minnesota Cities conference. Forum Communications report Don Davis was on hand to ask leaders from across the recent LGA cuts would affect their service delivery efforts and impact property taxpayers.

  Many cities noted that while the 2009 cuts may be managed through mostly unnoticeable spending cuts, the deeper 2010 cuts will do more damage. Moorhead will consider reducing its public safety budget and talk about raising property taxes. The Willmar Fire Department is down eight firefighters since only six positions were hired back after 14 retirements. Hawley plans to reduce library and community center hours, and also will put off its plan to hire a fourth cop for its 24/7 patrol.

  These are just a few examples from around the state. Many cities will similarly have to reduce their workforce (including public safety personnel), shorten hours at public facilities, and increase property taxes. If you believe that cutting LGA severely weakens Minnesota’s cities, contact your legislators today, and tell them that it’s time for the state reaffirmed its commitment to the LGA program.

• 16Jun

  Mayors: Brace for deep service cuts and significant property tax increases

  Firefighters, Jobs, Libraries, News, Police, Property Taxes No Comments

  Minnesotans need to prepare for significant property tax increases and major cuts to public safety, libraries, parks, and other city services, mayors said in response to the announcement that Governor Tim Pawlenty will unallot $192 million of funding to Minnesota cities.

  “Minnesota communities were critically hurt today by the governor’s action, and nearly every Minnesotan will personally be affected. It could be in the form of no cop in their kid’s school, higher property taxes, or a local library that is no longer open,” said St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “Many Minnesotans will think in the coming year that this is not the state they knew, or the state they want it to be.”

  Over the past six years, Minnesota cities have lost $750 million in local government aid, and as a result property taxes have increased over 65% statewide. This increase in property taxes, however, has fallen short of replacing the lost aid, so essential city services have also been cut back.

  “The effects of cutting aid from Minnesota communities are as predictable as a Minnesota winter-every year we see higher property taxes and cuts to critical services,” said Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden, who is also president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.

  Responding to the governor’s constant calls for cities to do more with less, the mayors shot back citing evidence that cities have been more fiscally conservative than the state over the past six years. While funding for state programs has actually increased 3.2% since 2002, the revenues available for local spending have decreased 13.7%. Furthermore, cities shrunk their workforce by 6% between 2003 and 2008, while the state’s workforce ballooned by 10% in the same period.

  “Minnesotans see right through this blame game and will hold state lawmakers responsible for the community cuts and property tax increases that emerge from the governor’s actions,” Wolden said. “The governor’s cuts are wrong, and it’s time for state leaders-both Republicans and Democrats-to put their residents first and prioritize funding for safe, affordable communities. They need to speak out against the governor’s cuts now.”

• 01Jun

  Republican Alexandria Mayor to Governor: LGA cuts are too deep

  City Stories, Firefighters, Jobs, Libraries, News, Police, Property Taxes No Comments

  Alexandria Mayor H. Dan Ness, a Republican, penned a guest column in today’s Star Tribune that calls on the governor to protect LGA if he is serious about protecting taxpayers:

  To me and to the other Republican, Democratic and independent mayors who share my support of LGA, being a taxpayer watchdog means protecting our residents from paying exorbitant property taxes for the services all Minnesotans are entitled to, such as public safety, access to a regional airport, libraries and parks. (Star Tribune, 6/1/09)

  Mayor Ness also dispels the myth that cities aren’t doing everything they can to shield residents from damaging service cuts or increases in property taxes:

  …Cities shrank their workforces by 6 percent between 2003 and 2008, while the state’s workforce has ballooned by 10 percent in the same period. The loss of these jobs at the local level translates into lost services — fewer police on the street, less frequently plowed roads and delays in park maintenance. (Star Tribune, 6/1/09)

  Similarly, funding for state programs has actually increased 3.2 percent since 2002, while the revenues available for local spending have decreased 13.7 percent. In a city’s daily operations, this drop in dollars has meant leaving police and fire positions vacant, reducing library hours, and closing city parks, in addition to other cost-saving measures. All of these efforts demonstrate that cities are willing and able to make the hard choices to control spending. (Star Tribune, 6/1/09)

  Thank LGA applauds Mayor Ness for standing up for property taxpayers and LGA. If you care about your city services and the affordability of your community, contact the governor today and tell him to reduce his cuts to LGA.

• 15May

  We all lose under Pawlenty’s plan

  Firefighters, Jobs, Libraries, News, Police, Property Taxes No Comments

  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.

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