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State Representative Joyce Peppin
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7806
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
NEWS COLUMN
Rep. Peppin Advances Legislation for Our Area
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
In this edition:
1. Legislation for our Area
2. School Shift Repayment Update
1. Legislation for our Area
Last week I presented three bills that are specific to our area.
House File 2625
It is an unfortunate reality that the Elk River School District, #728, receives substantially lower funding each year than schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. This is because over the last 30 years, legislators from those cities molded the education funding formula to provide their schools more dollars per student than suburban schools. With more than 13,000 students in the Elk River District, that adds up to millions of dollars.
This discrepancy is enhanced due to a little known provision in state law that districts with their headquarters in the seven county metro area receive more money per pupil than districts with their headquarters outside the metro area. ISD 728, which is headquartered in Elk River (Sherburne County) and outside of the seven county metro, has over 3,000 students who live in the metro area counties of Anoka and Hennepin.
I drafted House File 2625 in an attempt to address this imbalance and with the recognition that every student deserves the same educational opportunity. The bill would amend existing statute to provide equitable funding (approximately $100,000 annually) for those District 728 students residing in Anoka and Hennepin Counties. I recognize that this doesn’t completely remedy the situation, but it is the first step to addressing the funding inequities facing District 728. On Tuesday I presented the bill to the Education Finance Committee, and it was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus education finance bill.
House File 2099
This year is considered a “bonding year,” and within the coming weeks, the legislature will put forward a capital investment bill to fund construction and infrastructure projects around the state. House File 2099 would appropriate funds for the Maple Grove Parkway Transit Station and the Phase Two deck expansion project. This includes the pre-design, design, and construction of approximately 450 parking stalls on a single elevated parking deck over the existing lot. The bill received its first hearing in the Transportation Committee and will be considered for possible inclusion in the capital investment bill.
House File 2788
The Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners is composed of seven members. Five are elected and two are appointed by Hennepin County Commissioners. Since this board has taxation authority, and levies millions in new taxes each year, I believe ALL members of the board should be elected. It is truly taxation without representation for there to be any unelected members.
House File 2788 would require all members of the board to be elected, and it received its first hearing in the committee I chair, the Government Operations and Elections Committee. I was grateful to receive supportive testimony from Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson. The bill’s next stop will be the House floor.
2. School Shift Repayment Update
As I mentioned in my last e-mail update, Republican legislators introduced a plan to pay back the entirety of the 2011 K-12 education shift and to begin repayment on the $2 billion shift that was instituted by the DFL in 2010. Last Thursday the House passed that plan.
We believe this is the responsible route to start paying back our debts. Last January we entered the legislative session as a new majority, and we faced a monumental $5.1 billion debt. As of February, we have seen a $6.3 billion improvement. This has allowed us to slowly start paying back the debt that was handed to us. We recognize that there is a long way to go, but this is a great beginning to the process.
As always, it is a pleasure and an honor to serve you in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Feel free to contact me at any time regarding matters of state legislation.
Have a great week,
Joyce
News Items
- PEPPIN REPORT: NW SUBURBAN FAMILIES WILL BE HIT HARD UNDER DAYTON AND DFL BUDGET - (Posted: May 28 2013 4:35PM)
- Rep. Peppin’s bill would lessen unfair fiscal disparities tax burden on Rogers - (Posted: Apr 3 2013 9:36AM)
- PEPPIN REPORT: FEBRUARY FORECAST REVEALS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE STATE SURPLUS - (Posted: Feb 28 2013 12:00AM)
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