Potential Rift in LGA

It appears there may be a growing rift developing between metro and greater Minnesota lawmakers in the allotment of state funds to local units of government. 

Earlier this week, Republican State Representative Larry Howes of Walker told KLKS News, the small cities in his district are far more responsible in spending Local Government Aid dollars that the metro.  State Senator John Carlson of Bemidji, a fellow Republican, agrees.  He says unlike smaller cities, the metropolitan areas of a larger tax base and their levy limits are lower.

Carlson says he was disappointed the governor vetoed the Republican budget bill passed earlier this session, because it would have frozen LGA at current levels.

Local Government Aid has been used as a tool to hold down property taxes.