Bid to Cut Local Government Aid Would Spare Rochester

ST. PAUL (AP) - Rochester would get a reprieve under a House Republican's bill to cut state payments to Minnesota's largest cities.

GOP lawmakers have long taken issue with big local government aid to Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Rochester. The say cities with big tax bases don't need the boost like smaller towns.

Rep. Duane Quam's bill would cut millions of dollars from those payments to the state's other first-tier cities but would leave Rochester's share untouched. That's because its per capita disbursement doesn't meet the cap Quam would set for large cities.

A House panel discussed Quam's bill Thursday. It's one of several property tax-related measures majority House Republicans may weave into a tax bill.

Quam is a Republican whose district includes part of Rochester.