SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The League of Minnesota Cities and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities have announced Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL – Aurora) will receive distinguished awards from each organization for his work during the 2023 legislative session. LMC is awarding Rep. Lislegard its “Legislator of Distinction” honor, while CGMC is recognizing him with its “Rural Leadership Award.”
“I’m deeply grateful to receive these awards. All session long, I proudly stood alongside LMC, CGMC, and local leaders across the state as we increased Local Government Aid, provided resources to improve public safety, made investments in vital local infrastructure, and so much more,” Rep. Lislegard said. “As a former mayor and city councilmember, I know the challenges cities face as they work to grow their local economies while giving residents a safe, healthy, and excellent quality of life. They also work to do so in a fiscally responsible manner, and are dedicated to making progress while avoiding raising property taxes. As chair of the House Property Tax Division, I look forward to strengthening these key partnerships to continue helping communities achieve their goals.”
This session, Rep. Lislegard successfully championed legislation to increase Local Government Aid by $80 million per year. LGA is a key tool cities use to deliver vital public services while keeping property taxes in check. He supported a $2.6 billion capital investment package to fund local priorities including renovation and repair of public safety facilities, and clean water infrastructure. Additionally, he voted for a groundbreaking package of ongoing transportation investments – including for small cities with populations less than 5,000, $240 million to replace lead pipes, and a package of dedicated public safety aid for cities. Rep. Lislegard also successfully helped push back against proposed onerous, duplicative permitting requirements that could potentially harm future economic opportunities in rural Minnesota.
LMC’s Legislator of Distinction Award is annually awarded to lawmakers who are accessible to local officials and seek input on issues important to cities, generally support LMC’s initiatives and speak out on behalf of cities’ interests, and recognize the importance of partnership between the state and cities.
CGMC’s Rural Leadership Award is reserved for legislators who have exhibited outstanding leadership on issues of importance to Greater Minnesota. The award will officially be presented at the Coalition’s 2023 Summer Conference in Thief River Falls today.