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Hans B'. Borstad June 27, 1997 Page 2 same reasons,we conclude that section 469.189(1996)does not authorize the city to donate funds or purchase a"membership"in the local chamber of commerce. Minn. Stat. § 469.191 (1996)provides: A home rule or statutory city or town described in section 368.01, subdivision 1 or la,may appropriate not more than$50,000 annually out of the general revenue fund of the jurisdiction to be paid to any incorporated development society or organization of this state for promoting,advertising, improving, or developing the economic and agricultural resources of the city or town. It is our understanding that this section was first enacted in 1989 primarily to allow small rural towns to participate in an organization called the Minnesota Initiative Fund,an organization which received grants from the McKnight Foundation matching certain contributions from towns and cities. However,contemporaneous legislative history indicates an understanding by the legislature that this law would also allow a city or town to contribute up to$50,000 annually to a local chamber of commerce. This seems to be a reasonable interpretation of the language of Minn. Stat. § 469.191,an&it is my opinion that this provision would authorize the City of Staples to contribute up to$50,000 annually to the Staples Chamber of Commerce. Authority to contribute does not necessarily permit membership,however. In general,it has been our view that authority of local units of government are not authorized to form or join "private"organizations absent specific statutory authority. Sm,gigs,Op.Atty.Gen. 92a-30, January 29, 1986;733,July 29, 1988. For example,Minn. Stat. § 144.581 (1996),which is mentioned in those opinions,authorizes hospital authorities to joiri and sponsor memberships in certain organizations. In addition,the Legislature has addressed the authority of municipalities to provide for municipal membership in certain local,state and national associations. In addition,cities are expressly authorized by Minn.Stat. §465.58(1996)to pay annual dues in the League of Minnesota Cities and the expenses of delegates attending the meetings thereof. Neither of these sections would apply to your situation,however. A broader grant of authority is found in Minn. Stat. § 471.96,subd. 1 (1996),which provides as follows: The governing bodies of cities, counties, and towns are hereby authorized to appropriate necessary funds to provide membership of their respective municipal corporations or political subdivisions respectively in county,regional, state,and national associations of a civic,educational,or governmental nature which have as their purpose the betterment and improvement of municipal 40