Agenda - Council - 03/26/1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: City Administrator RE: Staff Report DATE: March 23, 1979 1) State Local Aid: I attended the League Meeting on March 15~ 1979 that was held at the League Offices in St. Paul. The meeting covered proposed legislation to change the current laws that establish the distribution of State Local Aids to the Cities in the State of Minnesota which the League is sponsoring. This proposed legislation by the League would only, in my view, perpetuate further inequities to communities such as ours. I did inform the League Committee that Ramsey would definitely oppose this pro- posed legislation. Problem: The problem the League and the Legislators are having is how to resolve all the inequities in the present State Local Aid. They are also having a problem of understanding the needs of an outer tier suburbs as thinks only of the needs of the i~er tier suburbs, Minneapolis everybody and St. Paul, and the out state area (such as Fergus Falls, Isanti, Milaca). Consequently, the outer tier suburbs really have to bond together and get their case across. Other Legislation: Our Representative, Mr. Clawson, has introduced legi- slation which would enable us to get credit for our total population which he thinks will get through at least that is what I gathered in my conver- sation with him on Wednesday, March 21, 1979. However, Mr. Clawson is still going to need help even on this issue and I don't think he really realizes it. I must say he is working quite hard on our behalf to see that we get a fair break. Summary: In summary of all the above we are going to have to monitor this legislation very carefully to see that the City gets its fair share as you are looking at one devil of a lot of revenue you can gain or lose. You have an uphill battle on this issue but you can win if you hang in there.and present your case (Example: The Metro population is 1,990,760 estimated divided into Ramsey estimated population of 8,570 gives you a multiplier factor of .0043 times Metro State Local Aid pot of $108,491,345 equals $466,512 which would be Ramsey's share computing State Local Aid on a per capita basis. The bad news is that other communities wit~?the Metro Area are getting these revenues through pork barrel legislation.). 2) Personnel: I have completed the job descriptions on all our employees. I am currently putting together a compensation and job evaluation plan which is practically completed but has to go to the Council Personnel Committee. ~