21Dec
With nearly three feet of snow falling this December in many areas of the state, some cities may plow through their snow removal budget before the end of the year. In the City of Rochester, the public works department has been overburdened by the cost of overtime for its employees, fuel for its fleet of snowplows and rental trucks for snow removal. According to a report from KTTC-TV, any additional snow accumulation may force the city to dig into other budget areas to cover the cost of keeping streets clear.
Years of cuts to LGA have forced cities like Rochester to cut essential services and increase property taxes on residents and businesses. This has resulted in increased property tax and service disparities across the state, which LGA was intended to alleviate. Cities in all corners of the state need to be strong and affordable in order to attract businesses and families, so during this upcoming legislative session, be sure to contact your legislators and urge them to maintain current LGA funding.
UPDATE: The Star Tribune reports that recent snow emergencies have also forced Minneapolis and St. Paul to deplete their snow removal budgets.
30Nov
The holidays may be upon us, but due to budget cuts, the season may not be as bright for some Minnesota communities. As reported by WCCO-TV, the City of Mankato’s local budget cuts—which have been largely in response to LGA cuts at the state level—coupled with diminishing support from the local business community have meant a gradual phase-out of the city’s holiday decorations budget.
29Oct
As election day nears, local media are taking a closer look at the gubernatorial candidates’ positions on LGA. Candidates Dayton, Emmer and Horner all have very distinct views on the purpose of the LGA program, its funding formula and how much money the program needs in order to effectively provide property tax relief. Thank LGA encourages you to learn more about these viewpoints by reading the articles below:
27Oct
As its population ages and state aid continues to shrink, rural Minnesota may struggle to sustain essential city services for residents, according to a MinnPost report. In the City of Wheaton, a small town of nearly 1,500 along the western edge of the state, deep state aid cuts have had a very real impact on the city’s lean budget:
…[H]ere’s what it has meant for a city that was expecting about $700,000 in Local Government Aid but lost about 12 percent of it: Wheaton didn’t fill a public works supervisor position; it transferred the utility billing clerk off the city payroll; the city administrator must take unpaid leave every Friday afternoon and a week furlough annually; street repaving has been delayed or abandoned; library hours were cut; some upgrades to city facilities to abide by the Americans With Disabilities Act were delayed.
In addition to service cuts, the city has raised its levy by 19 percent since 2007. Struggling to maintain an adequate level of services at an affordable price to its residents, the City of Wheaton is finding itself in a situation that many small cities across the state know well: in order for the city to thrive again, it must increase its tax base by attracting young families and new businesses. However, without sufficient funding, the city cannot invest in the infrastructure and quality-of-life services that new residents and businesses demand. Continue reading »
14Sep
City Stories, Community Pools, Firefighters, Jobs, LGA, Libraries, News, Parks & Recreation, Police, Property Taxes, Senior Centers, Snowplowing, State Budget, Street Maintenance
Raising property taxes, laying off employees, cutting services, increasing fees and consolidating services with neighboring cities. These are all tactics that greater Minnesota cities are exploring as they weather a financial crisis caused by factors such as declining state aid, aging populations and decreasing property values. Minnesota Public Radio’s Ground Level blog is currently examining the issues facing cities as they piece together their budgets for 2011 and reports that after years of budget cuts, cities have few easy options to pursue. This is a must-read series that anyone interested in the future stability of cities should read. Below are selected entries of particular interest:
28Jun
On June 17, a tornado ripped through sections of Wadena, Ottertail and Polk counties in northwestern Minnesota and caused significant damage in the city of Wadena. Over twenty homes were declared total losses and both the Wadena-Deer Creek high school and the city’s community center were damaged beyond repair. In an interview with Star Tribune columnist Lori Sturdevant, Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden credits the LGA program with ensuring that emergency services in both his community and neighboring communities were at-the-ready to respond to residents in need:
“Wadena is a poor community,” the mayor explained. Its 2008 median household income was $35,569, less than two-thirds the statewide median. “But for LGA, we couldn’t afford all the services you see here.”
He elaborated: It made a huge difference that dark Thursday afternoon that Wadena had adequate storm sirens. That it had trained professional police, fire and county sheriff personnel on the scene. That it had an emergency action plan drilled into first responders’ minds. That its neighboring communities had similar state-funded assets and could swing into action.
Continue reading »
25Jun
With summer now in full swing, many Minnesotans will be hitting the roads for cabin vacations, camping, and siteseeing (Minnesota is home to the largest ball of twine, after all). Some travelers, however, are starting to notice bumpier roads, less frequently maintained parks, and shorter hours at municipal pools. One observer traveling to Alexandria even felt compelled to inform the Alexandria Echo Press of the city’s disrepair:
From about where the hospital is located, all the way up and down Broadway, the road is in bad shape—holes, ruts, depressions, patches…It presents a very poor ‘entrance’ to the city for people coming here for the first time. From my point of view, there is simply no excuse for these conditions in a city that is constantly recognized for being one of the most dynamic in our state.
Continue reading »
03Jun
In the past week, editorial boards from greater Minnesota newspapers have been weighing in on state actions that have significantly reduced their communities’ state funding dollars. Programs like LGA and Market Value Credit (MVC) help alleviate property tax disparities that exist between rural Minnesota and wealthier communities, which in turn strengthens the economic viability of the state as a whole. These programs also help communities provide essential services like police, fire protection, libraries, parks, and safe roads while keeping property taxes affordable. With the state having cut LGA by over $1 billion since 2002, communities that receive LGA are sacrificing quality-of-life services and asking property taxpayers to pay more for less, causing editorial writers to question the direction in which lawmakers are taking greater Minnesota.
The Mankato Free Press is concerned that LGA cuts will negatively impact the business climate in rural Minnesota, which is dependent on affordable property tax rates in order to attract and retain small businesses. Continue reading »
