The League of Minnesota Cities showed 2012 is shaping up to be a difficult year for Minnesota cities. According to data released by the LMC on Oct. 8, market values continued to fall for the third year in a row in 2012.

Local Government Aid isn’t growing to meet cities’ needs. Austin saw a 9 percent drop in assistance from the Local Government Aid program from 2011 to 2012, and a 2 percent drop the year before that. The LMC report said all cities had equal or lesser LGA in for 2012.

Out of the 856 cities listed, Austin’s average 2012 county tax levy was 518th from the lowest. Its average city levy was 192nd, while its average school tax levy was 715th.