House Passes First Wave Of Big Cuts

ST. CLOUD -- City leaders from across the state are bracing for what's expected to be cuts to Local Government Aid.

In fact, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the bill yesterday (Thursday) 68-63 that eliminate about $1-billion from the state budget deficit.  The Senate is expected to take up their version of the fill next week.

L-G-A is a big part of those cuts.  St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says the city will lose about $1.2-million in state aid, but he says they have budgeted for that cut already.

Kleis says the L-G-A formula needs to be reformed.  He says it would be better if St. Cloud could keep the sales tax money it collects rather than have to send it to St. Paul and then try to get it back again in the form of L-G-A.