Agenda - Council - 01/12/1982 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I limitations, while quite appropriate at the time of enactment, become progressively more constricting with advancing inflation. Therefore, the League recommends that certain of the more important and often used authorizing statutes containing dol- lar limitations be modified by application of a constant dollar index figure calculated from the year of enactment, to the limitation set out in the act. The modification should be made so that when statutes relating to other statutes are modified, the dollar limitations are adjusted in a uniform man- ner. 11-4. Campaign Financing and Disclosure Campaigns and elections to local office are the most important single contact between voters and representative local government. On the whole, the general public has more confidence in the election process at the city level because the candi- dates are usually well known (especially in smaller cities) and campaign activities are more visible than at other levels of government. Moreover, city candidates running for offices which are, for the most part, Iow paid, part-time, and non-partisan, are generally motivated by a sense of civic respon- sibility. The League perceives no need for new laws in the area of local campaigns, although it could support legislation which would simplify the elec- tion process or would encourage rather than discourage qualified candidates for local office. The League supports the following: 1. Extending income tax credits for contri- butions to city election campaigns; Eliminating unrealistic expenditure limits for city campaigns and instead, giving cities the authority to establish limits on campaign contributions from individuals and organi- zations as a means of controlling spending by candidates. Giving cities over 20,000 the authority to enact campaign disclosure ordinances for organizations and individuals. Requiring reports in cities over 20,000 of each contri- bution over $100 or more from a single source. 4. Eliminating any distinction between types of campaign committees in cities over 20,000. The League opposes the following: A state-mandated requirement of candidates for city office to file statements of economic interest because it is most likely to discour- age many qualified candidates from seeking or continuing in office. Campaign contribution limits or reporting requirements in cities with less than 20,000 population which are made unnecessary because of conflict of interest rules govern- ing the actions of elected officials in all cities. 11-5. Collateral for Depositories (B) Depositories now are required to collateralize the deposits of local government in the amount of 110%. Local depositories now serve as a valuable market for bond issues of local school districts, counties, and cities. If the amount of collateral re- quired is reduced, this market will also be reduced, making it more difficult to sell municipal bonds. Also, if the collateral is purchased by a state agency on behalf of all depositories, the existing cooperative arrangement between local deposi- tories and local governments will be destroyed and local governments may deposit their funds in larger depositories located outside of the community. Therefore, the League recommends that the legislature keeps the collateral requirements for depositories at their present levels and opposes any reduction, and also opposes the purchase of collateral by any agency other than a depository. 11-6. Election Day Registration (B) The principal purpose of the Minnesota system of election day registration is to improve and in- crease eligible voter access to voting. Unfor- tunately, the system has become more unworkable especially in the larger and faster growing cities, where individuals are not using the pre-election day registration and where there are a growing number of multiple registrations adding to the costs of elec- tions and to the frustrations of the voters. For these reasons, the League believes that registration should take place before election day. The follow- ing steps, however, would improve the current system. Election day registration and voting should be permitted, but no mandated, to take place in adjacent rooms. -5-