State shutdown will affect some local services

If the governor and legislature cannot solve their budget differences by the end of the month, July will start off with far fewer state-funded services. Cook County will feel some of the pinch.

Gov. Mark Dayton has issued his list of critical services that need to continue, despite a shutdown. Dayton listed 46 small state agencies as not critical, but even though most large government departments remain open, their staffing will be greatly reduced and not all services will be performed.

Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center administrator Kimber Wraalstad said reimbursement to providers will not be paid during a shutdown. That means Medicaid payments that partially fund the hospital payroll will be unavailable. She said they’re reviewing their investments and other options should they need to cover these expenses.

Diane Booth, University of Minnesota Extension Director said her office will not be affected. When regional funding for extension offices was cut in the 1990’s, the county continued to fund the program. However, should she need to work with University colleagues -- that could pose a problem.

Cook County Higher Education Director Paula Sundet-Wolf said they have contingency funds that should see them through. They receive a quarterly payment from the state in July, and that could come late.

County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers said county projects funded by state grant money would continue but payment from St. Paul would be delayed. If the county has to cover expenses, they would make a request for payment after the fact.

The City of Grand Marais receives local government aid from the state. City administrator Mike Roth said the first payment is scheduled for July and that could be delayed. Roth said LGA is in place because it’s a two-year appropriation made last year. But, he said there’ll be no one in St. Paul to write the check.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is the state agency the county highway department works with most closely. County Engineer David Betts said two local projects could be affected – the Junco Creek bridge replacement and the large Hwy 8 routing and paving project near the airport. MnDOT suggests suspending all projects in process. Betts said it would be very difficult to put a project on hold during the best part of our construction season. Because highway projects are let under contract, bills would have to be paid though no work was being performed.