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File Location: Pbrama>HDrive>Legislativelnitiatives>2016 <br />LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES ENDORSED BY THE CITY OF RAMSEY <br />2016 LMC LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM <br />(5) Public Infrastructure Utilities* <br />ISSUE: constructing and maintaining an effective roadway system is an essential function of local <br />governments. The City of Ramsey owns, operates and maintains more than 174 miles of roadway. The cost <br />to properly maintain existing municipal roadways in the City of Ramsey is estimated at $2.5 million annually <br />over the next 10 years. <br />Proper maintenance of local roadway systems extends the life of roadways and ensures the most effective <br />application of tax payer dollars. For every one dollar spent on preventative road maintenance, local <br />governments save seven dollars on future repairs. In many cases, similar to the City of Ramsey, other <br />Minnesota municipalities are not dedicating adequate funding for proper maintenance on local roadway <br />systems. <br />Existing road maintenance funding mechanisms, such as Municipal State Aid (MSA), local property taxes <br />and special assessments have become increasingly restrictive and less effective forcing local government to <br />seek new road maintenance funding mechanisms. Alternative funding methods for road maintenance <br />programs are nearly nonexistent. <br />Historically, the State Legislature has given Cities the authority to operate utilities for essential City <br />functions such as water supply, sanitary sewer and storm water services. The establishment of said utilities <br />has set a precedent for a workable process of charging fees on a utility bill for City services provided <br />through local infrastructure. Today, the authority for Cities to charge a similar utility fee for a road <br />maintenance program does not exist. <br />RECOMMENDATION: the City of Ramsey supports enabling legislation authorizing Cities to establish <br />roadway utility fees. <br />NOTE: supporting this legislative initiative does not indicate unanimous support of the City of Ramsey to <br />implement use of this tool. Supporting this initiative indicates the City of Ramsey has interest in the <br />opportunity to consider utilizing this tool. <br />*Similar language as 2015 LMC Legislative Platform, LE -6 (link) <br />2016 City of Ramsey Legislative Platform Page 8 of 9 <br />