12-08-1982 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMO TO: Metropolitan Losers' Group and Association of Small Cities DATE: December 1, 1982 RE: League of Minnesota Cities State Aid Legislative Policy The Metropolitan Losers' Group and the Association of Small Cities have been working through the committee system of the League of Minnesota Cities to gain support for changes that will make the state aid formula more equitable. The lobbying efforts of the League of Minnesota Cities would be vital in gaining the necessary legislative changes. The issue has been raised and acted upon by the Revenue Resource Committee. By a vote of 14 to 6, this committee recommended that state capita and 1need, were bthen areviewed, butlthetcommitteeewasnunable to reach a decision as to how the formula should be changed. The recommendation of the Revenue Resource Committee, to change the state aid formula, was then forwarded to the League of Minnesota Cities Board of Directors. At this level the committee decision was reversed, and the existing LMC policy was stressed - -no legislative change is to be considered until it has been first reviewed and approved by the League. It appears that the board decision was based, not so much on the merits of the recommended change, but on the issue itself. From the viewpoint of members of the board, the matter is too hot, too volatile, and a delve into change threatens to split the League of Minnesota Cities. This, they feel, would be detrimental to all cities. The issue will be ',rought to the League of Minnesota Cities 1;;rislative conference to be held January 26, 1983 in St. Paul. The purpose of the conference is for the general membership to change or ratify the recommendations of the Board of Directors. Without question the existing state aid fotwula is inequitable, and affected cities must be persistant in a quest for a change that is equitable. It is of vital importance that every city be present at the January 26 conference to vote for a change in the state aid formula. Your vote, and the assistance of any other city that you may be able to contact and influence, will be greatly appreciated and can have a great impact. P.S. Legislative lobbying efforts are included in another memo.