As the verbal sparring continues over state funding of Local Government Aid, Tom Steward of the conservative Freedom Foundation of Minnesota points out ways some cities and counties are dealing with budget problems.

“It's important to recognize local governments that are acting as faithful caretakers of taxpayer money,” Steward said. “These cities, counties and school boards are leading by example as they find ways to continue delivering essential services without passing additional tax increases to residents. In some cases, local policy makers have made the difficult decision to freeze, reduce or even eliminate their own pay.  While the savings may be modest, it's real money and these budget heroes should be thanked.”
 
The underlying message seems to be that instead of whining about proposed state cuts, local governments should start finding ways to save money.

Examples he cites are:

• The St. Cloud School Board plans to reduce its own pay by 10 percent for 2009.  School board chairman Jerry Von Korff says the board is sending a message that “we are going to have to work together in tough times.” The pay cut will save the district $5,748 this year.
•  The city of Cottage Grove recently cut nearly $1 million from its 2009 operating budget.  The city has instituted a wage freeze for employees, cut spending on non-essential services including ice rinks, and reduced its playground staffing needs.  City administrator Ryan Schroeder has said, “We have to make choices.  Our first priority is public safety and public works, after that everything is on the table.”
• Austin  City Administrator Jim Hurm declined a 3 percent raise, choosing to freeze his own pay at the 2008 level. Meanwhile, Austin's mayor and city council have not raised their own salaries since 2001.  The Austin City Council has announced plans to cut spending by 50 percent on the city's flower program, which places flower baskets throughout the city.  The spending cut will save taxpayers $10,000.
• The city of Hutchinson may be able to make up for its $415,000 reduction in LGA for 2009 with just one move: a wage freeze.  According to the Hutchinson Leader, a proposed wage freeze would save the city $392,000 this year. Hutchinson city leaders are also considering incentives for early retirement, which helped the city make up for previous LGA reductions in 2003.
•  Becker County Administrator Brian Berg says that intergovernmental cooperation is the best way to save money while still delivering high-quality, essential services.  Berg cites snow removal as an example of an essential service that is unnecessarily inefficient, with “state, county, city and township snowplows all operating in the same community." Further, he believes the problem boils down to "ego issues and ... protections of turf.”

The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota describes itself as an independent, nonprofit educational and research organization that actively advocates the principles of individual freedom, personal responsibility, economic freedom, and limited government.