Local chambers of commerce Monday will announce their preference for revenue increases over cuts to local aids as the best way to support local businesses.
The plea, lead by former Republican state Rep. Dan Dorman who is now the executive director of the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, arrives as lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton are locked in a battle over the state's next two-year budget.
Republican lawmakers have proposed cutting aids to cities and avoiding any statewide tax increases. Dayton wants to raise taxes and keep those aids steady.
The House-Senate plan would eliminate local government aid to three of the state's biggest cities -- Minneapolis, Duluth and St. Paul -- and give others what they are getting now rather than their expected increase.
City officials, joined by Democrats and Dayton, have long said without aid from the state, they would have to raise property taxes.
Chambers of commerce represent local businesses and tend to be run by Republicans, which could give their push, to be announced at noon at the Capitol on Monday, for revenue over cuts extra weight as the DFL governor and the Republican-controlled Legislature do battle.
The regular legislative session is due to end on May 23. If lawmakers and the governor do not agree on a budget by then, Dayton would call lawmakers back for a special session to complete the work.
