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Municipal Revenue & Taxation <br /> • Metro Cities supports the concept of performance measuring, but opposes using state <br /> established local performance measurements to determine the allocation of state aids <br /> to local governments, or to deny local governments the authority to establish their <br /> own budgets and levies, as such measurements do not well account for varying local <br /> needs and circumstances. <br /> 1-B Revenue Diversification and Access <br /> Metro Cities supports a balanced and diversified revenue system that acknowledges <br /> the diversity in city characteristics, needs and revenue capacities, and allows for <br /> greater stability in revenues. A diminishment in state aids creates severe challenges for <br /> many cities in the provision of public services and increased reliance on the property tax. <br /> Metro Cities supports greater access to other tax and revenue sources, and statutory <br /> modifications that allow cities to impose a local option sales tax for public <br /> improvements,without the need for special legislation. <br /> Metro Cities supports laws that provide for municipal franchise fee authority, and <br /> opposes statutory changes such as reverse referendum requirements or other <br /> constraints that would reduce local authority and flexibility for establishing, <br /> amending, or renewing franchise fees. <br /> Metro Cities supports increasing statutory investment alternatives for cities. Such <br /> alternatives should balance the safeguarding of investment assets with a city's <br /> demonstrated financial record. <br /> Metro Cities supports having local sales tax referendums conducted at a general or <br /> special election. The Legislature should recognize the equity considerations involved <br /> with local sales taxes, and continue to provide aids to cities that have high needs, <br /> overburdens and/or low fiscal capacity. <br /> 1-C Restrictions on Local Government Budgets <br /> Metro Cities strongly opposes levy limits and other restrictions on local government <br /> budgeting processes. Levy limits undermine local budgeting processes, planned <br /> growth, and the relationship between locally elected officials and their residents by <br /> allowing the state to decide the appropriate level of local taxation and services, <br /> despite varying local conditions and circumstances. <br /> Metro Cities also opposes the imposition of artificial mechanisms such as valuation <br /> freezes, payroll freezes, reverse referenda, super majority requirements for levy, or <br /> other limitations to the local government budget and taxing process. <br /> 2017 Legislative Policies 2 <br />