Future of the other "Twin Cities"

Mankato City Manager Pat Hentges spoke to the Downtown Kiwanis Club today and offered a number of interesting views on the "state of the city."

Hottest topic came last, through a question of longtime Kiwanis Club member Claire Faust, former Mankato city councilman and longtime MSU vice president.

What about the merger? asked Faust.

Hentges had made reference to cities combining services in his earlier remarks, talking about the budget crunch cities face, reduced government aid, and an eroding state government picture. And now is not the time for the state to be raising taxes.

Hentges remained diplomatic and noted "merger" decisions were up the the political leadership of both cities, but that, in his view, the cities of Mankato and North Mankato could save 10 percent and not reduce services, but at the same time he reiterated: "It's not going to save a lot of money."

To some, 10 percent would be a good start.

Makes one wonder if the political leadership of each town could discuss the "10 percent solution." Hentges thought out loud that there might be a way to keep each town's identity, but that should be left to people smarter than he.

Among the other items of interest in "state of the city:"

In 2003, local government aid made up 50 percent of city's budget. After Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotment this year and cuts of previous year, the amount will be roughly 25 percent.

Cuts of $3 million in city budget will cause city to solicit nonprofits and neighborhood groups to do the plantings around town and maintain them.

They'll cut planting and mowing 15 percent to 20 percent.

The city will be slower to respond to non-emergency public safety calls.

Snowplowing of neighborhood streets might be done later in the day instead of it being cleared curb to curb when you wake up.

The city will call more snow emergencies to get cars moved.

City will attempt to keep property tax levy low, but Hentges notes that on a statewide basis this will be the first year property taxes will bring in more than state income taxes.

Tough budget times will require cities to cooperate more. "We have to look at more mergers" but that mergers between cities and cities make more sense than cities and counties, because counties provide a whole array of services that are very different from cities.

He says he'd love to merge city and county law enforcement but they are so different in how they provide services, it wouldn't work very well.

It's been a big year for parks. City opened new Riverfront Park last week, will be completing improvements to Sibley Park and will be building new youth baseball complex on site of new elementary school south on Monks avenue.

My take: Clearly, a lot is happening in the other "Twin Cities." But budget pressure will reduce a Mayberry-like life to one that is more like......"Gopher Prairie," with apologies to Sinclair Lewis.