Kids and others playing at neighborhood parks in Buffalo, Minn., are going to have to go without the benefit of portable toilets.

The City Council has decided to not bring back rental bathrooms this spring in 15 parks, saving $20,000 in a strapped budget. Officials reasoned that the parks are within walking distance of most users' homes so they can find relief there.

That decision is not sitting well with the Portable Sanitation Association International of Bloomington. The group fired off a strongly worded letter this week to the Wright County community after getting a whiff of its plans.

"Portable restrooms ... cannot be viewed as a non-essential service," D. Millicent Carroll wrote on behalf of the group. "Rescind your budget cut of the portable restrooms provided to those using the (currently) fine park system."

Refusing to restore the toilets, Carroll warned, could lead to unsightly and dangerous public health situations in the neighborhood parks.

"To allow the public, adults and children to resort to using bushes and trees," Carroll wrote, "is unsanitary and provides an unlawful risk of indecent exposure."

City Administrator Merton Auger said Thursday that Buffalo has no plans to overturn the decision to cut the toilets.

"We didn't do it without some forethought," Auger said. "My initial reaction was, 'Why don't you write to Gov. [Tim] Pawlenty?'"

Like most cities, Buffalo is having a difficult time financially. It faces a $1.8 million budget deficit caused by a reduction in state government aid.

In addition to bathroom cuts, other cost-cutting measures included a hiring freeze on police officers, not replacing departing workers, no increases in wages or benefits and delaying vehicle purchases.

"The pain is widespread," said Auger. "I think people understand that we have to make sacrifices. We haven't heard anything from anybody."

Auger said he sees the sanitation group's concern, but that "given a choice between police and fire and porta-potties, I think that's an easy call."

Heron Marquez Estrada • 612-673-4280