• 09Sep

  It’s hitting home: Glencoe, East Grand Forks, Winona, Mankato, North Mankato

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  The proposed cuts range from reductions in overtime and temporary employee hours to elimination of school crossing guards to wholesale cutbacks in street seal coating.The latest update in our “It’s hitting home” series looks at budget challenges facing Glencoe, East Grand Forks, Winona, Mankato, and North Mankato. These cities are grappling with difficult choices to raise property taxes or cut services as a result of cuts to LGA.

  Glencoe:
  Council facing tough decisions on budget; cuts vs. new funding, McLeod County Chronicle (9/9/09)

  The Glencoe City Council is considering a plan to raise property taxes by 3%. This plan would also involve cuts to road maintenance, cuts to the city’s trail system and campgrounds, potentially delaying the purchase of a new fire truck, and delaying the replacement of two police officers and a street department position. The city may also have to implement new fees.

  East Grand Forks:
  EGF: 2010 budget ‘will be cut’, Grand Forks Herald (9/9/09)

  The East Grand Forks City Council set a preliminary property tax increase at a 12.8%, but plans to work this down to a more acceptable figure through tough budget cuts.

  Winona:
  City council considers staff cuts, tax increase, Winona Daily News (9/9/09)

  The Winona City Council approved a plan to cut 12 city positions, including the library director and a liaison officer who works in the public schools, and raise the property tax levy 5%.

  Mankato:
  Mankato eyes 4-5 percent levy hike, Mankato Free Press (9/9/09)

  During a work session, the Mankato City Council discussed raising property taxes by 4% to 5%. Along with budget cuts already in the 2010 plan, the council and city manager discussed freezing their salaries for 2010, cutting the parks maintenance budget, and making other minor staffing changes.

  North Mankato:
  North Mankato approves cuts, Mankato Free Press (9/9/09)

  North Mankato’s 2010 preliminary budget includes $220,000 worth of service cuts. According to the report, “the proposed cuts range from reductions in overtime and temporary employee hours to elimination of school crossing guards to wholesale cutbacks in street seal coating.” The proposed budget would also require a 3% property tax increase.

• 02Sep

  It’s hitting home: Austin, Albert Lea

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  Even though library usership is spiking across the country as a result of the recession, book-buying budgets, library hours, and staff numbers are taking a hit. That’s the case in Austin and Albert Lea, according to the Albert Lea Tribune. Both cities are facing budgetary challenges as a result of cut LGA.

  Libraries deal with budget reductions, Albert Lea Tribune, 9/2/09

  In Austin, ”a librarian position open as the result of a retirement is not expected to be filled until 2011, and the city’s preliminary budget for the library in 2010 is slightly smaller than the original 2009 budget…’We’re a full staff person short,’ [librarian Ann] Hokanson said. ‘It’s been a very stressful summer.’” 

  In Albert Lea, “Library Director Peggy Havener said the library has proposed cutting open hours from 55 to 44 during the week, which could mean two less days of operation.

  In addition, the Albert Lea Public Library is planning on cutting three part-time employees, while reducing the hours for two more part-time staffers.

  While the cuts still need city council approval, Havener said they are likely to go forward and speak toward the dire situation facing the library.

  ‘It’s the only way we really had to go,’ she said. ‘It’s not something we want to do.’”

• 11Aug

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

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  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.

• 23Jul

  As budgets tighten, libraries see surge in usership

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  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.

• 20Jul

  Mankato library to close on Sundays, purchase fewer books

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  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.

• 26Jun

  City officials talk about impacts of LGA cuts

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  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 Leave a Comment

  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.”

• 08Jun

  24/7 Police coverage may fall victim to LGA cuts in Glenwood

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  24/7 police coverage may have to be discontinued. Libraries may have to stop buying books or close their doors early. And the city beach may have to do without lifeguards.

  These are all alternatives the City of Glenwood is considering in light of the governor’s unallotment of LGA, according to the Pope County Tribune. Glenwood stands to lose $87,000 in 2009 and $97,000 in 2010 under the governor’s original proposal, on top of the $70,000 cut the governor unalloted in December—and for a city of just under 3,000 people, losing this amount of LGA means a lot. To prepare for these cuts, the city has already reduced overtime hours, will likely require pay freezes and reduced working hours for 2010 and 2011, and is considering moving to a four-day work week. These cost-saving measures will not be enough to recover from the LGA cuts, though, and Glenwood will likely still have to reduce services that residents depend on.

  LGA is what keeps communities across the state safe, affordable, and viable places to live and do business. If you value strong communities statewide, contact the governor today and tell him to minimize his cuts to LGA.

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