The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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  • Pat Christman

    LGA

September 24, 2009

Mayors sound LGA alarm

By Brian Ojanpa

MANKATO — Minnesota mayors are issuing a clarion call to the state’s citizenry:

Make every gubernatorial candidate say where they stand on local government aid to cities.

“Minnesotans have had it ... our citizens are demanding answers,” Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden said Thursday in Mankato.

Wolden is among a group of mayors on a multi-city tour to get their message across of how repeated state cuts to cities have hurt Minnesota.

Wolden and his colleagues are associated with the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, an organization of nearly 80 outstate cities that is organizing the tour effort.

“If you are running for governor, Minnesotans want to know where you stand,” Wolden said. “Will you uphold the state’s commitment to strong, affordable cities, or will you continue to allow property taxes to skyrocket across the state?”

According to the coalition, state budget-balancing cuts have resulted in unallotments to cities totaling $782 million since 2003.

As a result, city property taxes have increased 64 percent from 2002 to 2009, while cities have had to tighten their belts by curtailing or eliminating a variety of services.

“Candidates have promised us many things over the years,” said Park Rapids Mayor Nancy Carroll.

“We are at a point now, however, when we need to inform our citizens of what they can take to the bank: Either they brace for higher and higher property taxes and fewer services, or they can urge candidates for governor to commit to restoring local government aid.”

Mankato Mayor John Brady said he fears some cities will be forced into bankruptcy by continued cuts.

“To me, it’s an issue of equity. Small communities can’t absorb these cuts,” Brady said.

Wolden said mayors are calling on citizens to attend candidate debates, write letters to the editor and contact each campaign directly to find out where the candidates stand on local government aid.

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