Politics & Government

GOP Budget Targets Reduce State Aid to Cities

District 39A legislators respond to GOP proposal, learn more about impact of LGA cuts at local level.

The GOP’s budget targets were released last week in the Minnesota House and Senate. In the House, Republicans would make deep spending cuts in the areas of state government, energy and the environment and higher education. Spending for health and humans services would see a modest increase from the current biennium's budget, though less than its projected growth. The set of budget targets released by Senate Republicans are similar, with the largest cuts to higher education and state government.

Cuts to state aid would cause a big impact on the city of Mendota’s modest budget, and could eventually impact development in cities that no longer receive state aid including Mendota Heights, according to the respective leadership of the two cities.

Rep. Rick Hansen (D-District 39A), sat in on a DFL roundtable last Friday with city and county representatives to learn what effect local government aid cuts could have. 

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State aid for cities was initially established in 1967 to equalize how much residents across the state paid for basic services. Hansen said that legislators need to restore that “historical commitment” and he will be advocating to maintain state aid for cities.

Mayor Brian Mielke of Mendota and Mayor Sandra Krebsbach and council member Ultan Duggan of Mendota Heights also attended the roundtable.

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Mielke said that in a town with a budget of about $160,000, a decrease in state aid quickly erases a chunk of the city's total budget. In  2010 Mendota was scheduled to receive $25,000 but ultimately received $13,095. Meanwhile, of the city’s spending, over 60 percent goes to police protection from the Mendota Heights Police Department, said Mielke. And while other cities can cut staff or services to absorb revenue cuts, Mendota is not in a position to lay off an officer if necessary, said Mielke, or to cut their single employee.

Even so, through an increase in property taxes and a dip into reserves, Mendota is planning on not receiving a dime of LGA in this year or the next.

A dearth of state aid could even affect Mendota Heights, said Krebsbach. While the city has been fortunate that it does not rely on local government aid and no longer receives it, “Looking long-term, there has to be some opportunity from the state to help (cities) develop or maintain services,” said Krebsbach.

On the Senate side, Sen. Jim Metzen (D-District 39) said the cuts will hurt students and lower income residents. "You’re going to be fencing kids out,” Metzen said. “Only the rich families will be able to send their kids to college." Metzen also took aim at the proposed reduction in health and human services spending, saying it would result in reduced care.

 

 

Sen. Jim Metzen

Existing bills authored by Sen. Jim Metzen

—A bill for elevator code changes compliance timeline modification awaits a hearing in the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee. SF617 introduced March 4

—A bill for probate and appointment proceedings time period modification awaits a hearing in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. SF587 introduced March 4

—A bill for trunk highway #55 and county state-aid highway #63 (Argenta Trail) interchange construction environmental impact statement and scoping bond issue and appropriation awaits a hearing in the Transportation Committee. SF484 introduced Feb. 28

—A resolution urging support for the Republic of China as a part of the global community awaits a hearing in the State Government and Innovation Committee. SF483 introduced Feb. 28  

—A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for the Darvan Acres Nature Center; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds. SF482 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to natural resources; appropriating money from the Outdoor Natural Heritage Fund for Darvan Acres Nature Center awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF481 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to capital improvements; appropriating $250,000 in bond proceeds for a transit facility on the Robert Street Corridor awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF531 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill relating to energy; regulating projects funded by renewable development
account awaits a hearing in the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee. SF495 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill providing Trunk highway #52 noise barrier replacement bond issue and appropriation of $3 million awaits a hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF391 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects awaits a committee hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. This is the companion bill to HF74. SF49 introduced Jan. 18

— A bill providing $240,000 for Inver Grove Heights historical buildings rehabilitation and capital improvements grant bond issue and appropriation of $240,000 awaits a committee hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. SF297 introduced Feb. 10

Rep. Rick Hansen

New activity

—A bill to provide competitive grant money for arts education to k-12 students awaits a hearing in the Legacy Funding Division. HF778 introduced Feb. 28

—A bill to provide funds for the state Capitol building awaits a hearing in the Legacy Funding Division. HF777 introduced Feb. 28

 

Existing bills authored by Rep. Rick Hansen

—A bill to allow Mighty Duck grants to be used for new or renovated air handling systems of indoor ice facilities awaits a hearing in the State Government and Finance Committee. HF684 introduced Feb. 24

— A bill providing bonding money for Highway 52 barrier replacement awaits a hearing in the Transportation Policy and Finance Committee. HF477 introduced Feb. 14

—A bill providing $1 million to the city of South St. Paul to replace a pumping station on the floodwall awaits a hearing in the Jobs and Economic Development Committee. This is the companion bill to SF145. HF277 introduced Jan. 31

— A bill providing bonding money for inflow and infiltration projects awaits a committee hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. HF74 introduced Jan. 13

—A bill providing $25 million in bonds for conservation easements to be purchased by the Board of Water and Soil Resources, with priority given to flood prone land in southeast Minnesota awaits a hearing in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. HF109 introduced Jan. 18  


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