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SD -69. Posting Campaign Finance <br />Reports Online <br />Issue: The 2014 Legislature passed a law <br />requiring the filing officer of a local <br />government to post all campaign reports <br />required to be filed with the local <br />government online. The law does not change <br />what reports must be filed and only requires <br />the posting of reports online if a city has a <br />website. The filing officer must post the <br />reports on the city's website as soon as <br />possible, but no later than 30 days after <br />receipt of the report. The reports must be <br />available on the city's website for four years <br />from the date the report was posted to the <br />website. <br />While posting the reports online may be <br />more convenient for citizens and city staff <br />alike as it will replace the physical <br />distribution of reports upon request, the time <br />required to make the report available may be <br />difficult for maintenance of city websites. <br />Response: While the League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports increasing access to <br />information through the use of city <br />websites, the League also urges the <br />Legislature to revisit the length of time <br />required to keep reports online. <br />SD -70. Local Control in Purchasing <br />and Using Electronic Rosters <br />Issue: While electronic rosters (or "e -poll <br />books") may increase efficiency and <br />decrease cost for some cities, this may not <br />be true for all. As cities explore the use of <br />electronic rosters, data collected from the <br />Office of the Secretary of State and from <br />jurisdictions that have used the technology, <br />may be helpful in determining next steps. <br />Response: As the Legislature continues to <br />examine the use of electronic rosters, <br />cities should retain the option of utilizing <br />this technology but should not be <br />required to do so. <br />SD -71. Park and Library Land Tax <br />Break <br />Issue: As the price for land increases, it is <br />becoming more difficult for cities and other <br />local units of government to compete with <br />developers to save and secure land and <br />easements that are deemed appropriate for <br />park, library, trail, and green spaces. <br />Response: The state should amend the tax <br />laws to provide tax incentives for <br />property owners who sell land and <br />easements to local units of government <br />when the land is to be used for park, <br />library, trail or green space purposes. <br />SD -72. Charter Law Expense Limit <br />Increase <br />Issue: Under current law (Minn Stat. § <br />410.06), charter commission expenses that <br />are paid by the city are limited to $10,000 in <br />a first class city and $1,500 in all other <br />cities. The first class city limit was increased <br />in 1961 from $1,500 to $10,000 while the <br />limits for all other charter cities have not <br />been adjusted since 1947. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports increasing the allowable <br />annual charter commission expense limit <br />to $5,000 for cities other than cities of the <br />first class. <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2016 City Policies Page 44 <br />