The Star Tribune editorialized today that cities are making the difficult but right choices when it comes to managing budget deficits that resulted from Governor Pawlenty’s state aid unallotment. After losing $211 million, or 14%, of the total LGA allotment during 2008, 2009, and 2010, cities have been cutting important services, reducing their workforce, and making modest increases in local property taxes. None of these decisions have been easy or popular, but this balanced approach has been necessary in order to keep Minnesota’s communities afloat.

For too long, the state has avoided a similar balanced approach to solving its budget problems, thus forcing the tough decisions down to the local level. In the upcoming 2010 legislative session, CGMC urges legislators and the governor to work together and take an example from cities when it comes to budgeting.