In response to a $13.1 million cut in Local Government Aid (LGA) from the state, Mayor R.T. Rybak will prepare a revised budget for 2009, and the city is asking residents, businesses and city employees to “share their priorities and ideas for making significant cuts” during two public meetings in February.

The cuts will come out of the city’s $374 million general fund, which is fed by property tax revenue and LGA. General fund spending goes toward basic services like public safety (which accounts for more than half of general fund spending), health and family support, public works and infrastructure improvements. (The city’s total annual budget in $1.4 billion dollars, most of which is restricted for specific purposes.) To put the LGA cuts in perspective, a city press release states that $13 million is the cost of paying for 130 police officers or 150 firefighters.

Following an LGA cut in 2003 — $37 million a year for 2003, 2004 and 2005 — the city “made major structural reforms that put us on much stronger financial footing to deal with the current situation,” states the release. Still, Rybak warns that the current $13 million cut represents a significant financial impact and means “we’re going to have to put everything on the table and make some hard choices.”

The city will post information and an online survey to collect budget-cutting ideas on its website. People may also take the survey by calling 311 or by attending the February meetings (info below).

Rybak will propose a new 2009 budget by late February, and the City Council is expected to vote to approve it in early March.

Budget cuts meetings

Monday, Feb. 9
7–8:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Park Recreation Center
4055 Nicollet Ave. S.

Tuesday, Feb. 10
7–8:30 p.m.
Eastside Neighborhood Services
1700 Second St. N.E.

last revised: February 4, 2009

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