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| Date: | May 12, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Chris Van Guilder | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-1388 | | Contact Email: | christopher.vanguilder@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATE PASSES LEGACY BILL APPROPRIATIONS |
(ST. PAUL) – The Senate passed the Legacy Bill, which appropriates funds generated from the 2008 Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Act constitutional amendment to increase the sales tax by three-eighths of one percent for twenty five years. The legislation, Senate File 1363, appropriates $449.223 million over the next biennium to funds for Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage. The bill passed Thursday with a vote of 52-14.
Chief author of the bill and Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) stated, “Minnesotans take great pride in their environment, parks and trails, and arts and culture. The preservation and enhancement of these is critical to our quality of life. This bill allowed us the unique opportunity to discuss and debate the best way to allocate revenue outside of the General Fund. We worked hard to accomplish our task with respect and fairness for both rural and metro Minnesota. I appreciate and thank my colleagues, department officials, and the citizens of our state for their efforts in passing this bi-partisan legislation.”
Legacy appropriations will be divided among four funds as follows:
The Outdoor Heritage Fund will appropriate $86.9 million for fiscal year 2012. The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, as established by the legislature, is responsible for providing annual recommendations to the legislature on how the funds should be used. The council’s recommendations directly relate to the restoration, protection, and enhancement of wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.
The Clean Water Fund will appropriate $179.427 million to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater from degradation. Protecting Minnesota's waters is a joint effort between seven partner agencies, who collaborate and partner on Minnesota's water resource management activities under the Clean Water Fund.
In an effort to improve transparency and increase public involvement, the bill also changes the structure of the Clean Water Council. Currently consisting of agency officials, the council will be revised to include citizens and elected officials. The membership will consist of two public citizens appointed by the Senate, two citizens appointed by the House, four citizens appointed by the Governor and two members from both the Senate and House.
The Parks and Trails Fund will appropriate $78.1 million to State Parks and Trails, Metropolitan Parks and Trails, and Regional Parks and Trails. This funding will conserve and enhance Minnesota’s nationally renowned system of parks and trails while preserving wildlife habitat.
The distribution of the Parks and Trails Fund was passed into statute as follows:
· 39 percent to State Parks
· 39 percent Metropolitan Parks
· 22 percent to Regional Parks
This Parks and Trails Fund distribution in the last biennium was:
· 43 percent to State Parks
· 43 percent to Metropolitan Parks
· 14 percent to Regional Parks
The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will appropriate $104.7 million to support arts, arts education and access, and to preserve Minnesota's history and cultural heritage. This bill funds the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Department of Education, Minnesota Historical Society, Public Television and Radio, Como and Lake Superior Zoos, Children’s Museums, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Film and TV Board. Additionally, the bill also funds the Minnesota Zoological Garden, Minnesota Humanities Center, the Perpich Center for Arts Education, Indian Affairs Council, and Veteran’s Affairs.
After passing the Senate, differences between the House and Senate Legacy Bills will be resolved in a conference committee.
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