Section 1. County tax-base equalization aid. Modifies county-tax base equalization aid by modifying the calculation used to determine a county’s tax-base equalization aid factor. Beginning with aid payable in 2018, an element of the formula shall be increased by the ratio of the statewide net tax capacity per capita to the statewide net tax capacity per capita in the 2016 assessment year.

Beginning with distributions in 2017, the allocation to a county under tax-base equalization aid shall not be less than: (1) an amount equal to 0.27 percent of the total appropriation available for that year; or (2) 95 percent of the tax-base equalization aid for the county in the prior year, whichever is greater. If the sum of aids payable to counties exceeds the appropriation for that year, the distributions to those counties whose aid amounts exceed their minimum aid must be proportionately reduced.

Annual allocations to Anoka and Washington Counties to pay postretirement costs of health insurance premiums for court employees is also repealed.

Section 2. County program aid; appropriation. Increases the appropriation for county need aid by $7.7 million, and tax-base equalization aid by $32.7 million

Section 3. Repealer. Repeals a provision in law allowing counties to continue to receive the transition aid it received in 2007. There are seven counties that receive additional aid under this section (Aitkin, Chippewa, Cook, Kanabec, Kittson, Traverse and Wilkin) totaling $463,869.

Effective Date. All three sections are effective for aids payable in 2017 and thereafter.