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State Representative Dean Urdahl
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4344
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
OP/ED COLUMN
REPEALING MANDATES COULD EASE LOCAL BURDEN
By State Rep. Dean Urdahl
Economic issues were – as expected – at the forefront during the recent series of town hall meetings I hosted throughout District 18B. It was good to hear opinions from so many local folks and I want to share information regarding a bill I'm co-authoring to give local units of government some budgetary breathing room.
The bill (HF1195) repeals funding mandates imposed by the state on local units of government and it recently passed its first committee test. The idea is to give local officials more flexibility in crafting their budgets, just one way we can help ease the burden of today’s recession.
The Local Government Aid payments received by many Minnesota cities, townships and counties – including a handful in District 18B – were cut in November and they may be trimmed further as a means to help eliminate the state’s $4.6 billion deficit.
Mandates imposed by the state dictate how much money local governments must spend in particular areas. Many cities, townships and counties are put in a bind when they must continue spending at certain levels even when their budgets shrink. Flexibility is the key and this bill would give local officials – and the general public – the latitude to tailor their budgets and maximize available funds.
This bill also allows local governments to ask local taxpayers to support increased levy limits.
Levy limits make sense when the state is increasing funding. But, if funding is reduced, we should give local decision-makers the opportunity to ask taxpayers if they will levy back what is lost.
Another feature of the bill is it establishes a Legislative Commission on Mandate Reform to make recommendations to the Legislature on reforming or eliminating other mandates on local governments. It would expire in 2013.
This bill still needs to be heard by other committees before it appears before the full House, but I will keep you posted as we make progress.
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Dean Urdahl represents District 18B in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The district includes most of Meeker County and a portion of Wright County. This is Urdahl’s fourth term in the Legislature after being elected in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
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