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Tools for all cities on grassroots communications on state budget deficit proposals Mary-Margaret Zindren Next week the League will launch the first portion of an action toolkit for cities to use in communicating with their local businesses and residents about the implications of legislative proposals related to the state budget deficit. The toolkit will focus on the following issues: · Impacts of cuts in local government aid and market value homestead credit. · Levy limits/levy freezes. · P~everse referendums. · Restrictions on the ability of cities to issue debt. Member cities will be able to access this latest action toolkit, as well as other LMC advocacy tools, by visiting the "Take Action Now" page of the League web site at: www. lmn¢.org (click on "Legislative," then click on "Take Action Now"). The information can also be mailed to members upon request. Our goal is to ensure that all cities--regardless of their reliance on state aid--find these tools useful. Proposals related to levy limits, reverse referendums, and debt restrictions would impact all Minnesota cities. The League believes it is impor- tant for businesses and residents to understand and become active on issues affecting city government and community priorities. The more that businesses understand that levy limits and debt restrictions are likely to reduce city investment in economic development efforts, construction, and basic products and services, the more likely that those businesses will speak up in favor of the city position on these legislative proposals. Similarly, the more that residents understand that major cuts in state aid to cities could result in longer response times 13om emergency services, longer turnaround times in fixing potholes, and the reduction or elimination of the "non-essential" services they count on (such as transportation and programming for seniors and recreation opportunities for youth), the more likely that those residents will support the city's efforts to minimize such cuts. Watch future issues of the Cities Bulletin newsletter and the LMC web site for announcements as each set of tools related to this action toolkit becomes available. 117 Committees continue budget reviews Laura Offerdahl This week, legislative committees continue to review state agency budgets and Gov. Pawlenty's recom- mended reductiom to agency programs and grants. Committees are taking testimony from agency heads, nonprofits, local oflqcials, advocates, and citizens about the budget cuts and the impact on services. With the new budget forecast predicting a $125 million gap between revenues and expenditures in the governor's plan, legislators and Capitol observers are awaiting revised budget recommendations from the adminis- tration. Finance Commissioner Dan McElroy said the governor will release updated budget recommendations by the end of this week or early next week. In the meantime, the House and Senate are collecting feedback in community meetings around the state to gauge the public's reaction to the governor's budget cuts before assem- bling their own budget packages. The Legislature set April 29 as the deadline for the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Commit- tee to approve their omnibus appro- priation bills. For more information on com- mittee hearings, visit the Minnesota Legislature web site at: www. leg. state.mn.us (click on the "Sched- ules'' icon). ~- March 5, 2003 Page 3