Legacy funding bill begins its House journey

More than $300 million of potential Legacy Fund appropriations started their journey through the Legislature Tuesday.

Sponsored by Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska), HF1731 would appropriate money from two of the four Legacy Funds – created by the Legacy Amendment in 2008 to benefit the state’s natural and cultural resources.

The bill seeks $220.5 million from the Clean Water Fund, and the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee adopted a Torkelson amendment that added $87.4 million in appropriations from the Parks and Trails Fund. That money would be used to pay for clean water projects and parks and trails improvements during the upcoming biennium.

The committee recessed to the call of the chair before taking action on the bill and is expected to resume consideration Tuesday evening. The companion, SF1734, sponsored by Sen. Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point), awaits action by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee.

Water appropriations

Money from the Clean Water Fund is used to fight groundwater degradation and protect, enhance and restore water quality in lakes, rivers and streams. The Clean Water Council, a 28-member board that advises the Legislature as it appropriates Clean Water Fund money, reviewed funding requests and offered its Fiscal Year 2018-19 biennial recommendations in a December 2016 report.

“This bill accurately reflects the recommendations that came out of the council,” Torkelson said.

The appropriations would be used for four general purposes:

• $105 million for implementation activities – described by a council member as “shovel-ready projects” that would clean up lakes and streams;
• $67 million for planning and technical assistance – developing restoration and protection plans and providing assistance to local governments and citizens;
• $41 million for monitoring, mapping and data analysis – studying water quality and quantity, fish and plant communities and mapping geology; and
• $8 million for research and evaluation – conducting agricultural and storm water research, program and project evaluation and reporting on results.

Much of the discussion Tuesday morning concerned an unsuccessful delete-all amendment offered by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) that would have added $15 million more to the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

This initiative pays landowners to voluntarily “retire” environmentally sensitive land to protect and improve water quality and other natural resources. Gov. Mark Dayton signed an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture in January to secure $350 million in federal funding for the program, but the state must commit $150 million of its own money.

More than $54 million has been appropriated in past legislative sessions, but more is needed and Hansen said the Clean Water Council had made its funding recommendations before the agreement was reached.

“[CREP] attracts a lot of federal dollars that may not be there during this uncertain time with the federal government, but we know they’re there now,” Hansen said. “You’re going to see tremendous interest from landowners across the state who want to enroll.”

Torkelson said the council had put together a good package of recommendations and that, although adjustments would likely be made, Hansen’s amendment went “a little too far.”

Parks and trails appropriations

Money in the Parks & Trails Fund must be used to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance and is allocated using a 40/40/20 formula. Forty percent goes to the Department of Natural Resources for state parks and trails; 40 percent goes to the Metropolitan Council for metro parks and trails; and 20 percent goes to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission. 

The money appropriated by HF1731, as amended, would be distributed as follows:

• $34.5 million – DNR;
• $34.5 million – Met Council; and
• $17.3 million – GMRPTC.

The Parks and Trails Advisory Committee, a nine-member working group created by the Legislature in 2011 to make recommendations on Legacy Fund spending for parks and trails, submitted a letter to the committee supporting continuation of the “40-40-20 split” through Fiscal Year 2019.