HF 2007

1st Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/20/2012 03:31pm

A bill for an act
relating to government operations; requiring a study of the feasibility of
consolidating counties and rationalizing other internal boundaries; appropriating
money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin STUDY ON CONSOLIDATING COUNTIES AND RATIONALIZING
OTHER INTERNAL BOUNDARIES.
new text end

new text begin The state auditor shall study the feasibility of consolidating counties in the state. As
part of the study, the state auditor shall consider conforming county boundaries to other
existing physical or organizational boundaries including, among others, state judicial,
watershed, and landscape districts, and shall consider the economic implications that
may result from the consolidation.
new text end

new text begin The study shall also include a consideration of the rationalization of other internal
boundaries of the state such as highway maintenance and regional economic districts.
new text end

new text begin In addition to any other information and resources the state auditor uses to study
the feasibility of consolidating counties and rationalizing other internal boundaries of the
state, the state auditor shall consider (1) the report and recommendations of the legislative
auditor on consolidation of local governments published in 2012, (2) the ideas generated
from the 2011 local government innovation forums summarized in the Association of
Minnesota Counties' "Focus on Outcomes: Redesigning Minnesota's Local Government
Services" along with any background research that went into the forums and report, and
(3) the pilot projects that are proposed under the Minnesota Accountable Government
Innovation and Collaboration Act, S.F. No. 1340, if enacted in the 2012 legislative session.
new text end

new text begin The state auditor shall report on the study to the appropriate committees of the
legislature by January 1, 2013.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated for fiscal year 2013 from the general fund to the state auditor
for the purposes of section 1.
new text end