Senator Eric Pratt [R-Prior Lake] was unanimously elected Chairman of the Minnesota Legislative Commission on Metropolitan Government by his fellow committee members on Tuesday, December 12. The commission was established to oversee the Metropolitan Council’s operating and capital budgets, work program, and capital improvement program.

“As chairman of the Legislative Commission on Metropolitan Government, I will work with my fellow committee members and stakeholders to review the Metropolitan Council’s operations to ensure they operate as effectively and efficiently as possible,” said Senator Pratt. “In addition, I hope we can have some thoughtful discussion on how to reform and improve accountability of the council to the residents they serve. The seven-county metro area has changed dramatically since the Met Council was established in 1967, and now is a great opportunity to ensure the council is able to be effective in the 21^st century.”

The bipartisan commission is comprised of seven members of the Minnesota House of Representatives and seven members of the Minnesota Senate. Each member must reside in, or represent a portion of, the seven-county metropolitan area. The commission’s areas of focus are the tax rate and dollar amount of the Metropolitan Council’s property tax levies and any proposed increases; any request for an increase in the debt of the Metropolitan Council; the overall work and role of the Metropolitan Council; the Metropolitan Council’s operating and capital budgets, work program, and capital improvement program; and the Metropolitan Council’s implementation of the operating and capital budgets, work program, and capital improvement program.