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a) The required annual payment should <br />reflect the amount the city itself pays <br />toward maintenance, upkeep, and <br />capital improvements to the library in <br />that year. <br />b) If the MOE reduction in Minn. Stat. § <br />275.761 is restored to a level at least as <br />high as the 2010 level, it should be <br />phased in over three years. <br />e) Any relief provided to the county <br />MOE requirement should not result in <br />additional funding requirements to <br />cities. <br />The authority for library systems to <br />create library taxing districts should be <br />expanded statewide. <br />The Legislature should allow municipal <br />libraries the ability to charge non- <br />residents for membership and\or other <br />services without the loss of any State or <br />Federal aids. <br />FF-31. 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 />FF-32. Increasing Safe School Levy <br />Authority <br />Issue: Strong partnerships between schools <br />and local law enforcement are critical to <br />school safety. Police School Resource <br />Officers (SROs) are valued professionals in <br />school communities and provide support, <br />safety and security for students, staff and the <br />public. Further, SROs can provide regular <br />opportunities for informal, positive <br />interactions between students and police <br />personnel. <br />Under Minn. Stat. § 126C.44, the Safe <br />Schools Levy allows school districts to levy <br />for costs associated with student and staff <br />safety based on student enrollment numbers. <br />Some eligible expenses include police <br />liaison services; drug abuse prevention <br />programs; gang resistance education <br />training; school security; crime prevention; <br />and implementation of student and staff <br />safety measures. <br />Using Safe Schools Levy authority, local <br />school boards may raise additional resources <br />for school safety and security. Almost every <br />Minnesota school district currently levies <br />the full amount of $36 per pupil. This <br />amount does not cover the full cost of <br />providing this important service, and local <br />law enforcement agencies are not being fully <br />compensated for providing SROs. <br />Response: The League supports <br />increasing the maximum Safe Schools <br />Levy from $36 per pupil up to $60 per <br />pupil to ensure schools and communities <br />are able to continue providing safe <br />schools programming <br />FF-33. Equitable Funding of <br />Community Education Services <br />Issue: Under Minn. Stat. § 124D.20, school <br />districts are authorized to levy for <br />community education programs that can <br />include youth recreational activities. <br />However, state statute limits the total <br />amount of revenue that can be raised by the <br />school district to fund community education <br />programs and this limit has not been <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2018 City Policies Page 121 <br />