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.
The paper’s editorial writer confirms the visitor’s observation, but is also quick to note that the poor road conditions are only one visible indicator that state-level policy decisions on LGA are negatively impacting the basic services—such as adequate road maintenance—that we all expect cities to provide. LGA helps cities with low property wealth or high need provide these services at an affordable price to property taxpayers, but after a decade of program reductions, LGA has become less effective at accomplishing that goal.
As Thank LGA readers become aware of similar examples of reduced services in their cities, we encourage you to bring them to the attention of your local paper, which will in turn catch the attention of your legislators. As state lawmakers grapple with a deep budget deficit next year, they need to know the consequences of their policy decisions and stand up for their communities. To contact your legislators directly, click here.