CGMC looks for LGA to increase in Minnesota

The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) is hoping for more action from the Minnesota Legislature, which starts its new session in January.

Elizabeth Wefel, an attorney for the CGMC, presented the results of last year’s session and the organization’s hopes for this year at the Nov. 22 Staples City Council meeting. Staples is a member of the CGMC.

Wefel said the Minnesota Legislature did not pass any major bills in 2022, much due to gridlock between the two parties. 

“It was really a disappointment. The biggest disappointment was a lack of a bonding bill,” said Wefel. 

The new session will have the Democratic Party as a majority in the legislature, but Wefel pointed out that more than 80 percent of DFL members are from the metro area.

Wefel said the CGMC expects the new legislature to pass more spending, likely in the direction of public safety, capital investment, special education, paid family and medical leave, legalizing marijuana and affordable health care. She said Governor Tim Walz is pushing for surplus checks to citizens from the state’s budget surplus.

CGMC also expects an increase in Local Government Aid (LGA), the payments from the state to cities. 

CGMC is also pushing the legislature to pass a bonding bill that focuses on infrastructure. Wefel said they are trying to get more for child care grants, city streets, water and wastewater funding.