Mayor Miller Gives Waite Park State Of The City Address

WAITE PARK -- The city of Waite Park is expecting to lose an additional $237,000 in Local Government Aid in 2011. That's on top of the nearly $633,000 that has already been cut.

In his State of the City Address this morning, Miller says the League of Minnesota Cities is directing its members to re-think how they provide services because of lower revenues.

Miller says Waite Park developed a Future Services Task Force to look at those issues and will report back to the city council with its findings in March.

Miller says 2011-2012 budgets will be difficult. He says departmental budgets were reduced by 10% and the city's overall tax capacity has dropped 4% for the first time in the city's history.

Miller went on to say the city had some nice accomplishments in 2010 including the completion of River's Edge Park, 3rd Street North Trail, extension of Waite Avenue and the completion of 28th Avenue along the southern beltway.