“They may be back where they were, but they’re not back where they should be,” Zellmer said.

Even as smaller cities have seen the cuts restored, the overall funding for the program remains more than $100 million below the pre-cut level of $587 million. Zellmer was one of several mayors who wrote a letter to the Minneapolis Star Tribune asking lawmakers and the governor to address the shortfall during the proposed special session.

Zellmer, active in the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, said the organization is attempting to work with Minneapolis and St. Paul — the biggest losers in the LGA cuts — to ramp up the pressure on state officials.

The Legislature passed a tax bill in May that included a $70 million bump in LGA, although it was for 2008 only. Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed the bill, saying he objected to a different provision that would have required estimates of the impact of inflation in state budget forecasts.

“What we’re stressing is the tax bill was passed and agreed to by pretty much everybody, except for that one little provision,” said Zellmer, who wants the inflation provision dropped and the bill repassed.

City leaders also would like to see the funding formula changed so that cities don’t see swings in state funding that are difficult to predict. He’s less optimistic that lawmakers will tackle that one because every change in the formula creates winners and losers.

“None of ’em want to touch it,” Zellmer said.