Mayors urge Pawlenty to go easy on local aid cuts

Mayors and other local government officials throughout Minnesota are calling on Gov. Tim Pawlenty to go easy on them when he uses his emergency budget-cutting authority. The Republican governor says state aid to cities and counties is one of his targets for cuts beginning July 1. But local leaders say those cuts could hurt their ability to provide basic services, including police and fire protection.

At a State Capitol news conference today, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said his city is running out of options, after closing recreation centers and freezing employee hiring and wages.

"We've done the things that we have been asked to do. But there's a limit," said Coleman. "When you start cutting any further, you cut into the basic services that cities provide and that are necessary for cities to thrive. And when cities don't thrive, Minnesota doesn't thrive."

Gov. Pawlenty said Thursday that local government officials can tighten their belts like everyone else.

"People all across Minnesota in their family lives, in their business lives, in their employment lives are taking flat revenues, or in many cases, reductions compared to a year or two ago," said Pawlenty. "So I don't want to hear from mayors or city council members that they can't take any reduction at all."

The governor said many cities can tap budget reserves to help get them through any reduction in state aid.