According to the St. Cloud Times, at least seven city police departments across the state have completely dissolved since the beginning of 2009 as cities manage shrinking budgets and prepare for potential LGA cuts.
This news does not bode well for public safety in Minnesota. Over the last 10 years, an average of three police departments have dissolved each year; for 2009, that figure has more than doubled with nine months remaining in the year and the future of LGA funding in jeopardy. For most cities, public safety expenditures account for the largest portion of their budgets, making cuts to police and fire protection nearly unavoidable when LGA funding is significantly reduced.
While troubling, this story illustrates the purpose and effectiveness of the LGA program. LGA was created because without this funding, the cost of basic services—police, fire protection, safe roads, parks, and libraries—would become grossly unaffordable to cities that have low property wealth or high need. As police departments in cities across the state disappear, we are already witnessing the consequences of cutting the LGA program: some Minnesotans will be entitled to faster response times to car accidents, updated and properly functioning public safety equipment, and police presence in schools and at community functions; some Minnesotans will not. This isn’t a Minnesota that many of us would want to live in, and because of LGA, we don’t have to.
By keeping basic services affordable to taxpayers, LGA ensures communities in all corners of the state are strong and attractive places to live. If you want to protect your community and the quality of life in Minnesota, contact your legislators and the governor, and tell them to support LGA funding.