The Minnesota Inter-County Association is guided by specific principles when working with partners in policymaking.
- Open communication, transparent government, collaboration, and pragmatic problem-solving are needed to address Minnesota’s pressing public policy challenges.
- Good policy is grounded in good data, and evidence-based solutions designed to improve outcomes for all Minnesotans while also supporting promising local innovation that can be scaled statewide.
- County governments must be included in the design and implementation of state laws, policies, and programs that impact county governments and residents.
- State funding must fully cover the costs of programs and administrative processes that counties are mandated to provide, such as levels and types of service, specific methods, or processes, and avoid requiring counties to share costs or fund cost shifts.
- Legislative actions must respect local-control and align funding accountability with the level of government that is exercising its decision-making authority to set program rules.
- Counties are allowed the flexibility to temporarily, or permanently, suspend maintenance-of-effort funding requirements when appropriate to effectively manage and prioritize limited public resources.
- Preferred legislative proposals are those that improve how government works, result in equitable outcomes for Minnesotans, enhance cost-effectiveness, and embrace innovation through better use of technology.