The Governor's recommended budget proposal (PDF file) here.

TheStarTribune reports:

Aid to cities, counties and health and human services took the deepest cuts in Pawlenty's proposal.

The governor, who is in his last year in office, pledged to protect programs for the military, veterans, public safety and money for K-12 classroom education.

According to the governor's office, the budget cuts $1.2 billion by paring $250 million from aids to local units of government; $347 million from health and human service programs; $47 million from higher education funding, and $181 million from state agencies and other programs.

The budget also includes a 20 percent reduction in the corporate tax rate, which would cost the state $10 million through next year and $150 million in the following two years, and a 20 percent reduction in small business taxes, which would cost the state $118 million in fiscal years 2012 and 2013.

Mayor's Comment:  Many have asked my thoughts about Governor Pawlenty's budget proposal and how it affects Clarissa.  Well just looking at the numbers Certified LGA for Clarissa will go from $160K (2010) down to a proposed $85K (2011).  A $75,000 dollar reduction in money that comes into our city.  

It is sobering figure for sure, yet, I have come to understand that with every legislative session figures will change between DFLers and GOPers about a hundred times.  What I am most interested to see is if the Supreme Court will uphold the Governor's unallotment powers.  (The Mayor remains in favor of the Governor on this issue).  This will be the date that the legislature will get serious about budgets and budgeting.  Everything up to then is grandstanding and political posturing.

A Mayor that's paying attention over the last decade has watched LGA reductions for the last five or six years.  Hopefully they have been honest with themselves and planned for their city that the current LGA system is dying.  Our city has restructured the way we operate and fund operations, so the numbers do not create a sense of panic for myself or our city.  It only means we may have to adjust the pace at which we are heading in a direction that does not include LGA.  

I do wish the legislature and governor would have one more designation for small cities.  I think cities with population of less than 500 people that have limited or non-existent enterprise funds should be treated differently.  Many of these cities only have property tax as their source of income. They cannot adjust as easily as our city (which is small), but has enterprise funds that can be refocused on to a transition with LGA reductions.  

So what we know is that we know nothing, and everyone needs to stay tuned.

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 Rep. Otremba's Dock To No-Where

Click here to watch & decide for yourself

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Colorado Springs is not a small city.  However, in reading this latest article it is amazing to watch how scare tactics are used whenever a group tries to push through a property tax increase.

"If a playground burns down, I can't replace it," Schroeder said. Park fans' only hope is the possibility of a new ballot tax pledged to recreation spending that might win over skeptical voters.

"I don't know if people are convinced that the water needed to be turned off in the parks, or the trash cans need to come out, or the lights need to go off," Fowler said. "I think we'll have a big turnover in City Council a year from April. Until we get a new group in there, people aren't really going to believe much of anything."

Read more:http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14303473#ixzz0eJSAfmqw

First, I would like to know how many playgrounds are burnt to the ground each year in the United States?  That would be a great story if there are a lot.  

I wonder why it is hard for the employee's of a city to understand why property taxpayers would not want to see their taxes tripled.  This is one of the main problems within government, and why you should consider running for elective office.  The self-interests of the staff of a city and the interests of elected officials can often be at odds.  It is important that elected officials are pushing back on staff to ensure money is spent wisely and projects can be sustained in an economic downturn.  

TIP 1: If you are an elected official please get to know your budgets in detail.  There are areas you can cut or reduce the rates of growth.  There are areas you can consolidate and streamline. There are budget reserves that can be used to transition through the tough times.  (Tip provided tax and fee free of course!!)  

I'm not sure if there will be a big turnover in the City Council a year from now.  However, given the voters turned down a huge property tax increase, it sounds to me like  a certain viewpoint just might be the winning issue in November.  

A slogan like:  Smaller Government, Lower Taxes, and Responsible Fiscal Management.  Maybe even a few staff changes within departments that have become so out of touch with the people who actually own the city:  It's Citizens.

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A productive set of days for us here in Florida.  We have dealt with our share of planes and automobile's, but it has been a great experience.  If any of you have not visited Missionary Flights International website please do so. 

Without this group of committed pilots, mechanics, and staff our task to get supplies to Haiti would be impossible.  We have spent every day at the airport organizing, finding, and preparing supplies for Pignon, Haiti.

One of the neat stories we have to tell had to do with our hotel.  We were busying boxing, organizing, and labeling supplies.  The cleaning ladies were so excited when they saw our boxes out in the lobby they came right in to our room and started helping.  They wanted to have a part in sending supplies.

We were able to purchase four new tires for the Haiti Mercy Mission Toyota Land-cruiser.  When the gentleman at the parts counter figured out the tires were for Haiti he was able to get us a great deal on them from the owner of the store. 

With what we saved in cost; it covered the cost to ship them to Haiti.  In addition, his parents are rice farmers in Arkansas and he was sure he would be able to secure free rice in the future if the need arose.  It is always great to meet other Christians with a heart to help no matter where you are.

We are still waiting on truck parts for a 1980 Toyota that was not built or sold in the United States.  A major headache would be an understatement.

My brother Erik is in charge of securing the airport in Pignon when planes come in.  He told us last night that the crowds are so big he's lost a few pallets to the mob of people and he was not going to die trying to save them.

We told him we packed a few American treats for him (beef jerky, candy, and an assortment of other snacks) on the flight Thursday.  He said that the box with the snacks after eating corn meal for weeks would be something worth dying for and he has secured a UN Convoy for the C130 that lands tomorrow.

More to come soon.  We will have a huge list of "Thank Your's" for everyone who has helped.

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