opinion

Forty years ago, "the LGA deal was that we would pool our resources and find a fair way to distribute them, so that basic services that should be governed at a local level could be provided adequately everywhere. That contract has been abridged.

Nice rhetoric Lori! The contract has been abridged because only Democratic voting cities receive LGA. Its never been fairly distributed. Bloomington 80K population ZERO LGA, Plymouth 70K Pop. ZERO LGA, Eagan 64k POP ZERO LGA, Woodbury 61K Pop. ZERO LGA, Maple Grove 61K pop. ZERO LGA. Eden Prairie 60K pop. ZERO LGA

I just named 6 of the 10 biggest cities in MN How come none of them receive LGA? But Mpls, St Paul Duluth, St Cloud do?Why?,Because LGA is a democratic tax redistribution scheme giving State tax money back to their voter base! Thats why! Its been going on for the 40 years of Democratic majority in the MN legislature

What a crock, cooper. The six cities you named are all wealthy suburbs where the need for funding of basic services is already taken care of. The money goes to Minneapolis, St. Paul and St. Cloud because there is a greater need for services due of population and relative wealth per capita. Your accusation is totally without merit.

"Republicans lift the cushions to look for money". I didn't need to read the article Lori, 'cause you got your hit in already.

Great, let's cut property taxes for businesses so regular people can pay a little more. My property taxes only go up a double digit percentage every year. If business no longer has to pay property taxes maybe we can crank it up to triple digit percentage increases every year. Brilliant!!!

"They'd do it by eliminating local government aid to the state's four largest cities, three of which reliably vote DFL." Entitlement party, always looking for a handout.

ivehadit "What a crock, cooper. The six cities you named are all wealthy suburbs where the need for funding of basic services is already taken care of."

I live in Burnsville population 60K 2009 medium household income $60,840. LGA ZERO! Rochester MN pop 105K 2009 Medium household income $62,420. LGA 2011 LGA $5+ Million. Dont piss on my leg and tell me its raining!

Rochester MN has the means to sustain its budget and provide basic and advanced services with out an 11% subsidy from the State. The same goes for Mpls, ST Paul, Duluth, St Cloud.

"...where the need for funding of basic services is already taken care of." --- Please show me where the word (or concept of) need is in the Constitution? "From each... To each" is Marx, not Jefferson.

Yo...Cooper....Rochester is an economic engine ( IBM and medical community/Mayo) and that is why it is supported by the state.

Did you know that blue states pay out more money then they take in from the federal government? And red states take in more than they pay out. So who is subsidizing who?

The cities are also just looking for some of the money that they pay into the state. They're the economic engines of Minnesota, generating far and away the most tax revenue.

jackpinesav "Yo...Cooper....Rochester is an economic engine ( IBM and medical community/Mayo) and that is why it is supported by the state.

Maplewood must be an economic engine with 3M, Eden Prairie must be an economic engine with Super Value, Mn Vikings, MTS Tech, Digital River, Minnetonka must be an ecomonic engine with United Health and Cargill, Golden Valley must be an econimic engine with General Mills. How come those "economic engines" dont recieve LGA?