I never would have thought that the amount of money one pays for fire or homeowner’s insurance would be connected to the LGA cuts championed by Governor Tim Pawlenty and his allies in the legislature. That is, until Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden explained it to me.

Through the Public Protection Classification program, ISO, assigns a number (1-10) which serves as a rating of the quality of fire protection in a particular fire district.

A community’s PPC depends on:

• fire alarm and communication systems, including telephone systems, telephone lines, staffing, and dispatching systems
• the fire department, including equipment, staffing, training, and geographic distribution of fire companies
• the water-supply system, including the condition and maintenance of hydrants, and a careful evaluation of the amount of available water compared with the amount needed to suppress fire.

The three criteria listed above are among the type of public fire safety services that are impacted by cuts to local government aid (LGA).

But don’t take my word from it. Watch the video of Mayor Wolden talking to the Make Minnesota Thrive Drive road team about how LGA cuts are affecting Wadena’s ability to provide the essential services its residents rely on: