A look at Rochester’s financial needs

(ABC 6 News) Minnesota’s state auditor Julie Blaha spoke with Rochester mayor Kim Norton today during a listening session.

The virtual listening session included a review of statewide financial trends and how they impact us here in southeast Minnesota.

Mayor Norton said Rochester is a growing city and city leaders have struggled with the budget.

She says the homeless population has grown which impacts spending and the city has spent more on public safety to handle some of the cities social service needs.

"It’s really indicative of the pressure that we’re going to be under over the next five to ten years to keep up with what the expectations are and not price out the community and that’s almost every community I would think. I think that is what we’re hearing here," Rochester City Administrator Alison Zelms said.

Local leaders will now provide regional reactions to the trends discussed today including mayors, county commissioners, township officials, and other local government leaders and financial officers.