AWC sent a letter to the budget leadership in the House and Senate on city budget priorities on January 19. The House and Senate proposed budgets are expected to be released shortly after the February state revenue forecast and a final budget passed before they adjourn the session in mid-March.

The letter included continued support for several programs important to cities including:

• $10 million to fund police officer recruitment and retention
• Additional law enforcement training
• Funding for affordable housing, including the proposal for a new state REET for high value properties
• Backfill for city-county assistance for low tax base cities and counties due to declining REET revenues
• Continued investment in behavioral health treatment, including city co-responder teams
• Unwinding the General Fund transfer from MTCA in the biennial budget to support environmental programs and reduction of toxic pollution
• Continued support for infrastructure funding, including the Public Works Assistance Account

For more on AWC’s budget priorities, see the budget matrix for the Governor’s proposed supplemental budget. AWC encourages city officials to talk to your legislators about the supplemental budget priorities.