2022.12.06 WS Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

2023 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2 Local Control as General Principle As a general principle of government, the City of New Brighton supports granting local control to municipalities regarding the services they provide, in the manner that they do so, and in their decision-making authority. As the closest unit of government to our residents, we believe New Brighton officials are in the best position to understand the needs, priorities, and issues of our community. Preemption at the State level is becoming increasingly more common and we hope that our delegation is supportive of legislation that promotes local control. Deputy Registrar Relief The City of New Brighton operates a local license bureau office. We are extremely proud of the service that we provide, but are concerned about the financial feasibility of the office due to the failed rollout of the State MN Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS). Additionally, the new MNDRIVE system implemented in 2020 has had a negative impact on our operations. These programs not only impact our bottom line, but have created a high potential for negative public perceptions on our operations which we take very seriously. During the 2022 legislative session provisions based on recommendations of an independent expert review were agreed upon and included in the transportation omnibus bill, but did not pass. Had those provisions been adopted the City of New Brighton’s License Bureau would have received an additional $65,000 annually, plus a proportionate share of $7 million in each of the next two years related to online and mail-in transactions. We support funding to compensate us and other local deputy registrars appropriately. Local Government Aid (LGA) Funding The City of New Brighton supports increasing the LGA appropriation and ensuring cities are made whole to account for the difficulty in budgeting without clear understanding of what their LGA appropriation may be in any given year. The total need identified in the LGA formula for 2023 is estimated at $767.9 million, whereas the current funding is set at $564.3 million, putting the remaining need at $203.5 million. The City of New Brighton lost $313,302 from the 2022 certified LGA amount to the 2023 certified amount. LGA funding is critical for the City to meet its service goals and needs. Open Meeting Law Flexibility Throughout the pandemic we have seen firsthand the benefit that remote participation in local government meetings can have on engagement levels, both from an elected and appointed official standpoint as well as resident attendance at meetings. We support legislation that allows easier participation in local government and recognizes the advancement of electronic communication technologies. GENERAL GOVERNMENT Primary Contact: Devin Massopust, City Manager