Politics & Government
Rossing Selected for Governor’s Advisory Group
Northfield's mayor is one of 15 mayors from across the state to serve on the Tax Reform Advisory Group for Local Government Aid.
Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing is one of 15 mayors from across the state asked by to advise his administration on its tax reform efforts.
The group, called the Tax Reform Advisory Group for Local Government Aid, will review and discuss policy issues related to LGA, according to a press release sent out by the governor’s office Thursday.
The work of this advisory group will directly support Dayton’s comprehensive tax reform proposal, which will be presented to the Minnesota Legislature next year.
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“The Legislature’s continuing cuts to LGA have increased the financial pressures on local governments throughout Minnesota,” Dayton says in the press release. “I look to this group of distinguished mayors to advise us on whether LGA should be revised, or simply funded.”
In an email to local media Thursday afternoon, Rossing says she is “looking forward to being able to tell the story about lack of LGA has challenged our community.”
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“The change in LGA funding from the state has certainly negatively affected the level of services that the City of Northfield is able to provide its citizens.” Rossing says in the email. “It has also put a heavier burden on our local business community to make up that lost revenue since the state dictates a much higher tax rate for commercial and industrial properties. Mandates from the state might be acceptable if funded with state help, but when the source of funding is gone we need to rethink what is demanded of local government. We need to be able to have the tools to frame our own destiny and thus be sure that we can provide the services that our citizens deserve.”
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis are co-chairs of the advisory board. Others mayors in the group are Bruce Ahlgren, Cloquet; Dave Bartholomay, Circle Pines; Beth Baumann, South St. Paul; ReNae Bowman, Crystal; Ardell Brede, Rochester; Chris Coleman, St. Paul; Debbie Goettel, Richfield; Don Ness, Duluth; Joyce Nyhus, Buffalo Lake; Alan Oberloh, Worthington; Marlene Prospeck, Hoyt Lakes; and Dave Smiglewski, Granite Falls.
The group will meet periodically this year, according to the governor’s press release. The Minnesota Department of Revenue will provide support for the group.