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Friday Fax Feb 25 2888 15:58:82 Via Fax LMc -} &12 937 5739 AdMinistrator Page 881 Of 881 FRIDAyFAX Number 4 February 25, 2000 A weekly legisla6ve update from the League of Minnesota Cities ~'¡~0/i0II oø..... ..~....... Levy limits hearing Monday The Propeny Tax Division 01 the House Tax Committee will hOld a hearing 10 a.m., Feb. 28 on levy limits. On the agenda are several bills that address problems with current levy limits, Including a preemptive strike by Polk County that would increase the county's leVy limit base by $500,000 a year lor the next two years. The bill would only be effective illevy limits are extended beyond taxes pay- able In 2000. Legislators will discuss the pros and cons 01 levy limits and hear Irom local officials. LMC President Susan Hoyt and Robblnsdale Councll- member Bob Zagaros are sched- uled to testtly. The Robbinsdale City Council was 10rced to make cuts in city services as a result 01 the extremely tight levy limits currently in place. Call Eric Willette at the League, (651) 281-1263, by Friday II you would like to testily. State budget forecast The State Department 01 Finance will release an updated estimate 01 the state's budget on Tuesday. Legislators have been anxiously awaiting the 10recast, which will become the basis lor linal session actions on everything Irom a sales tax rebate to any supplemental appropriations bills. There is no clear consensus among legislators or lobbyists about what the 10recast will yield. speculation ranges Irom a small additional surplus to rumors that the 10recast will reveal another substantial increase in the esti- mated budget balance. County EDA bill to be heard H.F. 1182/SF 1226, introduced by Rep. Bill Kuisle (R-Rochester) and Sen. Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy), creates a process lor counties to establish economic development authorities (EDAs). The bill will be heard Monday at 12:30 p.m. in the House Local Government and Met- ropolitan Affairs Committee and at 2 p.m. in the Senate Local and Met- ropolitan Government Committee. The bill Is the product 01 lengthy negotiations among city, county, and HRA representatives. City provisions in the bill include an ability lor cities to elect not to par- tcipate in the county EDA, to not be subject to the EDA's tax levy, and to have a buffer zone that would extend two miles Irom a city's boundaries. Recently, the Minne- sota Association 01 Townships raised concerns with the two-mile buffer zone provision and may seek to have it removed. Several cities have responded that the buffer is critical to ensure county EDA authOrity does not promote devel- opment in areas where it cannot be supported. Please share your concerns with the members 01 the House and Senate committees. Call Mary Diedrich or Donyelle Mikacevich, (651) 281-1200 or (800) 925-1122, lor House and Senate committee member contact intormatlon. Occupational safety & health The House Jobs & Economic Development Polley Committee passed H.F. 2901 (Anderson, B.-R, Buffalo Township) as amended to the House JobS Finance Commit- tee. The bill provides lor a $50,000 penalty against employers who commit a serious, will1ul, or re- peated violation 01 occupational salety and health requirements, and the violation contributes to the death 01 the employee. It also pro- vides that a deceased employee's next 01 kin can participate in the salety review process and chal- lenge the citation Issued to the employer. A similar bill authOred by Sen. Many (D-Rosevllle) will be heard next week in the Senate JobS Committee. Weight exemption for utility vehicles The House Transportation Policy Committee heard H.F. 3274 (Work- man-R, Chanhassen) on Thursday. The bill is likely to pass to the House I100r later this month. The bill exempts vehicles owned by a public utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative Irom the state's road weight restriction laws. includ- Ing the seasonal weight restric- tions. The Senate is expected to take action on the companion bill, SF 2785 (Murphy-D, Red Wing). early in March. ." '0 Salary caps The Legislative Commission on Employee Relations met Tuesday to discuss the state's salary cap requirements imposed on municipal employees. The issue was raised by S.F. 2385/H.F. 3629 (Ourada-R, Buffalo/Olson-R, Big Lake), a bill tø eliminate salary caps on certain municipal hospital employees. The Commission recommended the bill not be passed Into law and recom- mended the Legislature address the broader publiC policy issues raised by the compensation limit law. It is unclear how the Legisla- ture will act on the bill. For t1IOTllnfoTmD/.lDn 011 city I.glslatlv. Issues, rontat:t any m.mber of th. Ll!4gu. of Minnesota Cities Intergov.rnmental R.latlDns teom. (651) 281-1200 or (800) 925-1122 (C -. Cav:...\ ..------ Attached is the Community Leaders Workshop flyer to be used for distribution to your elected leaders as soon as possible. RECEI'JED FEE 2 5 2000 If you have any questions, please can Betsy Chase at 556-6241. CITY OF CHANHI'I~~E.N (om~~wrr lf~~f~J 'O~(JüilOr ~dílN~[ð)díll MdíI~(/HJ ~~. 2000 8:45 An TO NOON Cf1~NI1~JJ¡:N IU:CK!:ATlON Cf:N~K ",(¡I1WIIT 5 Aft) <UlLYlft ROA) LfT J COMf TCXiI::TI1fK TQ · MffT i:LfCm WlDi:KJ rlton IUJÆIUf ~RVfK CO\II'fTT · \UibflUTRrtD 1111:: nI'NKf P'IAI'fJ or TItf CmfJ or CRRVfK. c'I1Rl'fftRJJfrt CrtAJM. VICTORIA. QlKVfK CO\II"TT ¡lI'f/l) .sC,f100l DI.J1IIC,T 1/2 · I{I::YlfI! JOltøTI"II'fAri<:IAl '«OJI::C1l0ru ¡IND P'OR:/riTl¡lL TRX IMfRCT] 111fKf WILL Df Tim: JfT dUiDf TItKOQQrtCXIT TI1If nO«"'"Q TO DUC,\UJ Tt1f InP'UCRTlONJ or 0\11{ 'iJ!tfJ dlltii) 'I{OJfCTIOI'fJ. fl!AJt IUYfTO .5Ttfl1Aftlt lIT 556'6100 I'T MARCI16. 2000. 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