State Shutdown Will Have Minimal Impact on Edina

With a possible looming, the City of Edina expects to see no immediate or even far-reaching affects if an impasse over the state budget takes place, even into the immediate future.

“We rely on just under one percent of state funding in our overall annual budget,” said City Manager Scott Neal.

Neal did point out there are some small tasks the city routinely engages in which could be altered if midnight June 30 comes and goes without an agreement between Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

“We do share in state funding with the City of Bloomington for some public health services and state funding is involved in that.”

These services include such tasks as health inspections in restaurants and at and school swimming pools.

“However, it is my understanding that it is still unclear as to whether public health and safety will be mandated to continue even if there is a shutdown.”

On Wednesday, certain state services should be funded including “health care.” However, it is open to interpretation as to whether “health care” would include the aforementioned health inspections.

Gearin also commented that she questioned whether she had the judicial authority to make her rulings stick.

Neal pointed out that dual functions involving both the city and the state could be affected. Licensing for things such as liquor, catering services and legal gambling might be stalled because there would be no state participation.

“People in Edina could see things that affect them, but they would not be from the city-side of the issue,” he said.

Cutbacks at places like the Hennepin County Services Center on York Avenue were a case in point, he said.

Earlier this month, the City Council did pass a motion calling for electrical inspections to continue in Edina for both commercial and residential structures. Normally, state inspectors carry these out.

If a shutdown happens and as long as it continues, the city will get bids from private contractors. The fees for permits related to the inspections will cover costs, so no additional city funds will be needed to pay for them while a shutdown takes place.