Government Shutdown Would Force City of Richfield to Lay-Off 10 Staff Members

With the possibility of a inching closer as a result of legislators being unable to approve its budget, many may be wondering what impacts the shutdown would have on the City of Richfield.

The truth is that many of the services the city provides to its residents are dependent on the ongoing support of the state, according to Richfield City Manager .

“One of the most significant of those services is the City Deputy Registrar function, where it will not be possible to issue motor vehicle licenses if the State operations are shut down,” Devich stated in a memorandum to the . “Moreover, staff expects to get many additional phone calls and visits from people who are dependent on State subsidy payments for food, shelter and medical services.”

From officers being unable to access criminal history information to the delay of the Nicollet Avenue bridge project, a state government shutdown would impact nearly every area of the city in some way. In addition, Devich also stated he would have to let 10 city staff go until further notice.

While it’s important to note that many possible impacts are minor in nature, others will require the city to rely on financial reserves and cause the temporary reduction in city staff.

Other possible impacts include:

• The inability for the city’s support services, licensing and environmental health departments to run criminal background checks for gun purchases, liquor dispensers, pawnbroker applications, firearms dealers and more.
• Public safety may not receive 911 calls if the state patrol dispatch is down.
• Police officers would not be able to enter missing person information.
• Environmental reviews would be delayed and possibly affect several proposed and pending redevelopment projects such as the and projects.

Richfield Patch will continue to follow this issue and report as more information becomes available. To see Devich’s full memorandum, see the attached PDF.