Cornell City Council; Shared revenue needs to be just that – shared

Floyd Hickethier, Cornell City Council member, looks over documents Feb. 16, on how shared state revenue has not changed in almost 30 years, while costs continue to rise. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

There is a plan proposed at the state level to increase aid to municipalities in the next bienniel budget, which would send 20 percent of the state sales tax revenue back to local communities and essential services.

“That’s the first movement I’ve seen in years, where finally, somebody is acknowledging that the state level kind of dropped the partnership we had with shared revenue,” said Cornell city administrator Dave DeJongh.

That partnership...or the lack of...was discussed Feb. 16, at the regular Cornell City Council meeting, where DeJongh said Cornell is getting less today, than what they received in 1994.

At one time, the city used to get utility, telephone, income and occupational taxes from the state.

“Then, they just kind of combined them into the shared revenue formula,” said DeJongh, adding that the municipalities are also not allowed to increase the levy limits to try to raise more money. “They just kind of handcuffed the local governments.”

Meanwhile, the prices on labor, equipment and insurance continue to rise, leaving nothing for infrastructure improvements.

“Something obviously has to be done,” said council president Steve Turany.

One thing that could come out of the proposal, something that council member Ashley Carothers has lobbied for, for many years, is to get workman’s comp for when EMS personnel are being treated for PTSD.

“There’s more to it than just what’s written on here,” she said.

DeJongh said the League of Municipalities is encouraging the city to approach Sen. Jesse James and Rep. Rob Summerfi eld, to share their concerns and have the information taken back to the state level. Turany said it would be nice to have both the local politicians in Cornell for a listening session, and that plea was heard, as the two scheduled a public visit for Monday, March 6, at 10:30 a.m., in the council chambers.

Mayor Mark Larson pointed out that not only do two major highways meet in Cornell, but that traffic has increased 10fold in just the last 15 years. Cornell is also visited by thousands of tourists, who pour in every year, to take advantage of the outdoor recreation opportunities available.

“You would think something could be done,” said Larson. Floyd Hickethier, council member, said it’s worth a shot to ask that the revenue be increased, while council member Bill Kvapil agreed that lagging behind all these years, is taking a toll on infrastructure.

“We’re ringing their till and not getting a chunk of it,” said Turany.