I am writing to thank state Rep. Shannon Savick for a little-known battle she fought and won for the citizens of her district. During this past session, a bill was being discussed in committee to increase local government aid for rural Minnesota by $50 million. You may recall these are the funds spent by cities on parks, libraries, recreational programs and programs for seniors and other community projects. These programs help people with services they depend on as well as help cities keep property taxes down.

During the hearings, there was a move by the committee to cut this funding by $20 million and send those dollars to the metro area instead. Rep. Savick led a group of seven rural legislators to pressure the committee and got the funding reinstated for rural Minnesota. This is the kind of champion she is working on behalf of her district. We are lucky to have such a strong leader and she deserves our vote Nov. 4.

 

Bob Haas

Albert Lea