State Auditor Rebecca Otto released a report on the financial state of 853 Minnesota cities during 2013.
Among the findings: Revenue was up slightly for cities of more than 2,500 residents, but down 1.5 percent for the smaller cities. Total spending was down 0.3 percent; up .1 percent for cities of more than 2,500 but down 4.1 percent for the rest. Streets, highways and public safety accounted for half of spending in the bigger cities and 44 percent in smaller cities. Small cities are carrying a larger debt burden.
When adjusted for inflation, revenue was down nearly 10 percent between 2004 and 2013. Spending, when adjusted for inflation, was down 15.8 percent during that same period. Capital outlays declined 37.3 percent, with debt service down by about one-third.
