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The Developer-December/January 2004 12/2/03 12:16 PM • Cityof maple Grow Alan A. Madsen, City Administrator "Serving.Today,ShapIg Tomorrow'" 12 Arbor Lake%Pt*rkwaryr.P.O.Box III hlapkG rve,MN sW 11x61SO MOW - (763)4 1 Fox:.(763)4944421. wwwxi.tropirimtworoom Legislative News 2004 Session Preview By Kathryn S. Hahne ° The 2004 Minnesota Legislative Session will convene on Monday,February 2 for what is expected to be—hoped to be!—a"short"legislative session.Legislative leaders predic a Session that focuses primarily on state General Obligation Bond funding for capital projects and expect to be finished by the end of April or very early in May. There are two upcoming revenue forecasts—one in early December and one in February —that can throw a monkey wrench into these optimistic predictions.While the 2003 Legislature fixed Minnesota s$4.5 billion budget shortfall,they did it with economic • growth projections that may be optimistic,and they also did not factor inflation into the state s budget.Thus there are those legislators and others who are predicting that the December or February forecast may project a continuing budget shortfall for Minnesota. If that were the case,the 2004 Legislature would have to first revisit its current biennial budget for either new forms of revenue or further programmatic cuts,or both,before it can get on with any of the many capital bonding requests that will be in front of them. Thus proposals that ask for any type of funding will face a very steep uphill battle this legislative session. There will certainly be a variety of bonding projects proposed both by state agencies and various local units of government.The state funds capital projects every even year and funding for these projects is generally viewed as the hardest fought-over funding in any legislative session.This is not to say that there won t be numerous policy proposals from legislators on a wide array of topics.Legislators are always eager to leave their mark during a legislative session and,coincidentally,to also have accomplishments to point to when running for reelection. The shorter capital bonding legislative sessions are always much more intense and faster- paced than the longer budget year sessions.It s very important in these even year sessions to hit the ground running with legislation that is already drafted,authors chosen, and supporting testimony and support well organized.Legislators can introduce legislation at any time during the legislative session,and legislation that was introduced in 2003 carries forward and is still"alive"for the 2004 legislative session,but legislation that has the best chance of ultimately becoming law is introduced early in the 2004 session and advocated right from the start of the legislative session. The EDAM legislative committee has completed its legislative policies for 2004 and is • working hard on planning the Day at the Capitol for Tuesday,February 17.We will also be posting a spreadsheet that lists each of EDAM members individual legislators and contacting you in the future to solicit your help in building relationships with key http://www.ewald.com/EDAMENL/EDAMENL/EDAMDecJan2004/EDAMDecJan2004.htm Page 8 of 15