As a matter of scale, it’s not often that Minnesota and California are grouped together when discussing state budget woes. So what do the two have in common? Massive cuts in aid to local governments that are resulting in layoffs, cuts in essential city services, and increased property taxes.
According to a piece from Stateline.org, residents in Minnesota and other states that raided local government aid programs face challenging times in the upcoming years. Local-state relationships have been severely damaged, and the burden of funding critical services and raising revenues has been shifted downward to local governments.
Inevitably, these costs are shifted to those who have already been repeatedly stung by the recession: home and business owners. When aid to local governments is cut, property taxes go up and services that make our communities attractive places to live and work suffer. And it’s not just in Minnesota, either; the same is happening for residents in California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, as Stateline.org cites.
That’s why the 2010 state elections are so important. Minnesotans need a governor and legislature that believe in strong, affordable communities and will advocate for proven property tax relief programs, such as LGA. When candidates come to your city, ask them if they support LGA. Without their commitment, home and business owners are going to be left with a ballooning tab, and communities across the state will be less safe and less livable.