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Mounds View City Council January 26, 2009 <br />Regular Meeting Page 3 <br />i shifted to local property taxes and levy limits were placed. Senator Betzold stated you cannot cut <br />your way or tax your way out of this budget deficit. <br />Representative Tillberry advised of the Governor's visit to the beginning House caucus and <br />indication that Minnesota saw it fit to have a Republican Governor and Democrat House of <br />Representatives, and to ask how they can best work together. He stated he found Governor <br />Pawlenty to be impressive in opening himself up to questions. <br />Finance Director Beers asked if the State would address the suggestions presented by the Blue <br />Ribbon Panel. Senator Betzold stated the suggestions will be taken very seriously and he <br />anticipates they will implement many of them. <br />Council Member Mueller expressed concern that the Health and Human Services budget will be <br />cut; noting people whose unemployment benefits are running out will need services. <br />Representative Tillberry agreed that it does not help to close out one program only to shift the <br />person to another program. Senator Betzold advised that unemployment benefits will be <br />extended and they also are working on a bonding bill to get jobs going. <br />Mayor Flaherty thanked Senator Betzold and Representative Tillberry for providing this update. <br />He stated many people are asking what happened to get $4.8 billion in debt and saying <br />Legislators and Senators are not doing the job. However, the deficit is not from overspending <br />but because the budget was balanced based on revenues to be received, which did not happen. <br />He stated his concern about cutting auditors from the budget because that function is needed. <br />Mayor Flaherty stated Mounds View was told by the State that LGA would be received and <br />adopted a budget based on that and approved the levy. Now Mounds View has been told that <br />$640,000 of 2009 LGA will not be coming. Mayor Flaherty stated it is not fair to ask the cities <br />who were to get LGA to find a way to come up with that funding. Mayor Flaherty asked Senator <br />Betzold and Representative Tillberry to keep an eye on LGA for Mounds View, remove levy <br />limits, and mandates. He also asked them to watch legislation related to the extension of <br />runways at the Anoka County Blaine airport that is being discussed among Anoka County <br />Commissioners. <br />B. Resolution 7401, A Resolution of Appreciation to Russ Warren, Streets and <br />Utilities Committee. <br />Mayor Flaherty read in full and presented a Resolution of Appreciation to Russ Warren, for his <br />work on the Mounds View Streets and Utilities Committee. <br />Mr. Warren thanked the City for the opportunity to serve on the Committee, saying it got off to a <br />good start. <br />r <br />