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GSGL-8. STATE LICENSING OF CONTRACTORS (B) 1 <br />inspection and enforcement personnel reside at the local level, know the area <br />and activities, and are familiar with local ordinance and restrictions, thus <br />providing better and faster enforcement. <br />Suggestions have been made to form a statewide licensing authority and <br />split the revenue among the licensing agency and various municipalities with the <br />cities maintaining enforcement tasks. It is questionable under this arrangement <br />if either the agency or municipalities would have enough funds to accomplish the <br />respective tasks. The current proposals seem to overly complicate the existing <br />system which is effectively regulating the contractors and may result in a <br />reduction of small contractors who cperste in only a limited number of <br />communities. <br />GSGL-9. CABLE TELEVISION (B) <br />The <br />its role as a <br />state cable law <br />State <br />tl"V" ManyMinnesotacities receive cable TV service, and under present state and <br />federal law, cities are responsible for setting rates, establishing a franchise, <br />and imposing franchise fees. The League believes this law has allowed local <br />communities to provide input into an important community service and that it <br />should not be modified to diminish local control. The cable board had provided <br />valuable aid and expertise to cities in establishing and regulating cable TV, <br />including insulating cities from anti-trust lawsuits and therefore should be <br />continued in its current form. <br />GSGL-10. STATE AUDITS AND CITY FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (B) <br />. _ nF 16n oVictinu auditin¢ and f <br />Minnesota has one of the most modern and rigorous systems of oversight of <br />municipal finances in the nation. The state auditor currently reviews annual <br />financial reports of cities. Cities over 2,500 must have annual audits and the <br />state auditor has the authority to audit a city upon receipt of a petition. <br />The state auditor should not be given the power or responsibility to audit local <br />governments on a regular basis. The private sector is fully competent to <br />conduct governmental audits and may be more economical and practical than a <br />state agency. <br />4 <br />