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<br />. -.... 1Jt <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />i7~fJ.~,;,":..,~ ~ .. ... . <br />L ~\E GO~,. <br /> <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br /> <br />3490 Lexington Avenue North <br />St. Paul, MN 55126 <br />(612) 490-5600 <br /> <br />"'. ., <br />.~~ <br />. \. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />INFORM/\TION <br /> <br />Governor's Proposal Means Layoffs, Service Cuts, Property Tax Increases <br /> <br />February 2, 1993 <br /> <br />Dear City Official: <br /> <br />The next few days will provide a key opportunity to make your views known to legislators. They <br />are taking a long weekend away from Saint Paul. One purpose for this break is to allow them <br />time to go home and talk with constituents about the Governor's budget proposal. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The centerpiece of the Governor's proposal is a public employee salary freeze that supposedly <br />will save the state nearly $600 million. But city officials know that freezing salaries is unrealistic <br />because of existing contracts, pay equity requirements enforced by the Governor's own <br />administration, escalating health insurance costs, and other reasons. The Governor has not offered <br />any help or proposed any tools for government officials to actual implement a salary freeze. <br /> <br />The only conclusion one can reach is that he is not serious about freezine salaries. Instead. <br />his proposal really means layoffs. cuts in services. and property tax increases. To be fair to <br />the public, we must begin discussing the proposal in those terms. Unless we can convince <br />legislators, the public and the press that this proposal will force local government to cut services, <br />layoff employees and raise local taxes, the state will again fail to honor its financial <br />commitments and again will undermine the fiscal stability of cities. <br /> <br />The enclosed sheet lists four major concerns we at the League have about the Governor's <br />proposal. You may have others. In any case. it is vital that you contact your leeislators over <br />the next few days and tell them what you think. Also talk to your local press about these <br />issues and the practical difficulties you would have freezing salaries. And finally, if you are able <br />to cut employee salaries, do you believe the money saved locally should go back to the state, or <br />should it stay in your community as property tax relief! <br /> <br />Again, your help at this time is vital. Please give me or Gary Carlson a call if you have any <br />questions, or get feedback from legislators you think we should hear. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />VZ;:' <br /> <br /> <br />Don Diddams <br />Senior legisl'!tive representative <br />