On July 1, 2009, Minnesota began collecting the first proceeds from an additional 3/8ths of one percent sales tax that is constitutionally dedicated over the next 25 years for investments in clean water, wildlife habitat, parks, trails, and arts and cultural projects.
Minnesotans voted by a margin of 54-46 percent to approve the dedicated funds in last fall’s election to ensure our state’s environment, outdoor heritage, and cultural resources will be protected and enhanced.
As an avid outdoorsman, protecting our environment, parks, trails, and preserving our hunting and fishing habitat is very important to me and to future generations.
Legislation passed in May to determine how the more than $300 million in new revenue that was appropriated for the biennium will be distributed, resulting in new investments being made in virtually every part of the state.
The funds will also generate muchneeded economic activity and jobs. With the infusion of several million dollars into the economy, it is inevitable there will be new jobs created working on habitat restoration, working on clean water, expanding clean water facilities, and working on our state parks and trails. This is good news for helping get our economy back on track.
The new dedicated revenue will be distributed into four categories:
· 33 percent to the Outdoor Heritage Fund
to be used to protect prairies, forests, and
wetlands, as well as fish, game, and wildlife
habitat;
· 33 percent to the Clean Water Fund to be
used for identifying and cleaning up polluted
state waters;
· 14.25 percent to the Parks and Trails Fund
to be used for park and trail needs and priorities, including improved visitor services,
facility maintenance, and connecting
Minnesotans to the outdoors; and
· 19.75 percent to the Arts and Cultural
Heritage Fund to enhance a variety of arts and cultural resources, including the performing arts, historical projects, science and children’s museums, and the state’s
zoos.
Websites will be posted soon to allow Minnesotans to track how investments from the four funds are being used. In the meantime, anyone interested in the Outdoor Heritage Fund may contact the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council at www.lohc.state.mn.us. Anyone with ideas or questions about arts projects may contact the Minnesota State Arts Board at www. arts.state.mn.us.
Senator Tom Bakk
St. Paul
Leave a Reply