Residents put forward their concerns about prospective state budget cuts in a town meeting held by Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, Friday.

The meeting was a part of some 200 across-the-state town meetings by the Senate DFL members in the middle of the legislative session to craft their counter proposal to the Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s budget fix.

Pawlenty wants to cut $819 million in health and human services, $638 million in local government aid and $358 million in higher education, while generating $1.03 billion in revenues by using the state tobacco endowment.

&uot;There is some room where we can cut back. I’m not saying we can’t do that,&uot; Sparks said. &uot;But, some of the programs are so effective, having small staffs, using a lot of volunteer dollars and supplying real services to people who need these.&uot;

Participants complained that cuts in programs such as senior care, early childhood and after school activities disproportionately affects vulnerable people.

Some people questioned the GOP governor’s no-tax increase pledge, blaming the tax cuts in past years, championed by Republicans, for the current budget woes.

&uot;Over the past five, six or seven years, Minnesota has led the county in tax cuts. It seems to me now is the time to raise taxes to meet the deficit. If you tax in a progressive way, you don’t have to take money from any of those programs,&uot; Albert Lea resident Ted Hinnenkamp said. &uot;Anti-tax people have so much power now.&uot;

Sparks said the record Minnesota has earned as one of the best places to live is inseparable from the taxes the people are paying.

Albert Lea Mayor Jean Eaton and City Councilor Randy Erdman emphasized the proposed LGA cuts as unfair to rural cities because of the smaller tax base. Sparks showed figures that the per capita share of the cut is $178 for Albert Lea and $117 for Austin, while an Eagan resident suffers $46 and Edina $17.

&uot;This in an issue that is going to turn out to be more of the rural versus suburban fight,&uot; Sparks said. &uot;We cannot be so partisan in some these decisions we are making. Instead of saying Democrat versus Republican, let’s say greater, out-state Minnesota versus suburban rings. I think that is what’s going to happen.&uot;

As a tool to expand the tax capacity in rural Minnesota, Pawlenty has been pushing a tax-free zone proposal. Though Sparks basically agrees with the idea, he said he would want to see the community’s support.

&uot;My only concern would be we have to make sure it really does mean we’re going to have new jobs, rather than shifting and having competition against other local communities.&uot;