Proposed cuts to library services spurred editorial writers from the Ely Timberjay and Mankato Free Press to offer their thoughts on the future of essential services in their cities in light of possible LGA reductions. For Ely, the library’s share of the governor’s proposed LGA cuts would mean a severe drop in services: Continue reading »
-
16Mar
-
12Mar
Staring down the governor’s proposed LGA cut of over $600,000 for 2010, the City of Brainerd is taking a tough look at what services and personnel the city can do without. The biggest cost savings in the city manager’s preliminary proposal is to cut six full-time firefighters in favor of transitioning the department from full-time to on-call. Continue reading »
-
26Feb
The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities announced a bill this morning that would reduce the 2010 unallotment of LGA and MVC to their 2009 unallotment level, which would help communities avoid making deep cuts in essential services and protect property taxpayers from unaffordable tax increases. To learn more about this moderate approach bill, click here.
-
05Feb
Bemidji Mayor Richard Lehmann responded to comments Governor Tim Pawlenty made last week on his radio show about the city and its LGA funding. To read the full column, click here. Here’s just a taste:
In Bemidji, we’re proud of the way we have planned for hard times like these. But make no mistake: Cuts to LGA mean cuts to essential city services and increases in property taxes. Bemidji now joins the growing legion of rural cities “featured” on the governor’s radio show — a list that includes Albert Lea, Wadena and Mankato, among others — that he apparently feels he can run better than the local residents do.
Rather than dispense his budgeting critiques from an isolated recording studio in St. Paul, I invite Gov. Pawlenty to sit down with me and my statewide counterparts to have a constructive conversation on the future he envisions for greater Minnesota. Dialogue is a two-way street, and when the governor is ready to learn about the consequences of his policy decisions, the city of Bemidji will be here.
-
15Jan
This week, State Auditor Rebecca Otto released her office’s annual report on city finances. The press release for the report can be found here and the full report can be found here.
The State Auditor’s key finding is that cities are responding to cuts in state funding programs, such as LGA, by relying more and more on property taxes. In fact, between 1999 and 2008, the report notes, revenues derived from property taxes have jumped 37% when adjusted for inflation.
But cities aren’t just increasing property taxes to combat reduced state aid and other economic factors such as declining property values. According to the State Auditor’s report, both city revenues and expenditures have decreased 7% between 1999 and 2008, when adjusted for inflation. This means that cities are spending less than they did 10 years ago, and as costs for items such as fuel, health care, and road maintenance balloon beyond inflation, a city’s dollar today doesn’t stretch as far as it did in 1999.
Moving forward into the 2010 legislative session, LGA and the viability of Minnesota’s communities will be a main topic of debate, to which the State Auditor offered the following caution:
The State is facing a large budget deficit. If the Legislature and Governor further cut local government aids, this will continue the trend of a greater reliance on property taxes,” Auditor Otto said. “I will meet with Legislative leaders to share this very important information for consideration in budget negotiations.
-
15Dec
Senior centers across the state are facing deep funding reductions due to smaller and fewer donations, including those provided by local units of government that have experienced repeated LGA cuts. Read the full story here.
-
08DecEvents, Firefighters, Jobs, News, Police, Property Taxes, Snowplowing, State Budget, Video Leave a Comment
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.
-
04Dec
St. Paul Mayor Chris Colemand and Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden issued the following statement today regarding the need for a special session to resolve the state’s $1.2 billion shortfall for the current biennium:
Today we are calling for an immediate special legislative session to address the $1.2 billion dollar budget deficit.
Minnesota cities are so close to the financial edge that any reduction in the December funding will spell disaster in the form of closed libraries, deeper cuts to police and fire protection and a sharp reduction in critical services, like winter snowplowing.
This is one of the most challenging times Minnesota has ever faced, with high unemployment and virtually no economic growth. Another hit to cities will cripple our communities and the effects will only worsen the state’s economy.
A special session is the only reasonable, rational and responsible option. There has never been a greater time for state leaders to drop political slogans and petty disagreements and come together to address the long-term financial needs of our state.