Dear Neighbors,
I hope you and your family are having a wonderful summer, which is going by incredibly fast. The Minnesota State Fair and the start of school are already right around the corner. Speaking of the State Fair, I will be at the Minnesota House of Representatives booth in the Education Building on Saturday, August 26 from 10 a.m. to noon. If you are at the “Great Minnesota Get Together” that day, stop by and say hello. Here is an update from the Capitol.
State Capitol Grand Opening
This weekend the Grand Opening Celebration of the Minnesota State Capitol will take place in St. Paul. Following an almost four-year restoration, the building has been reopened to the public and shines in its former glory.
Originally opened in 1905, the Capitol had fallen victim to decades of deferred maintenance, with paint peeling, the marble exterior cracking with chunks of it falling off, heating and cooling systems aging beyond their useful lives, and outdated technology. The restoration project was a massive undertaking, and the results are simply stunning. No detail was left untouched with wonderfully restored artwork, increased public spaces, accessibility improved so all Minnesotans can better enjoy the building, and repairs were made throughout the building, including to the marble exterior and the Quadriga (golden horses on the roof).
“The People’s House” is a state treasure, and I hope you can visit this weekend to celebrate it. From Friday through Monday, many events will take place on the Capitol grounds with nearly all of them being free. You can take advantage of behind the scenes tours, see live music, experience family friendly fun at the Kid Zone, attend informative panel discussions, and more. Click here for more information and a full schedule.
Property Tax Refund Deadline
This coming Tuesday is the deadline to submit your application for either the Homestead Credit Refund (for homeowners) or the Renter’s Property Tax Refund. If you’re eligible, the amount of your refund depends on the amount of property taxes (or rent) you pay relative to your income. As a general rule-of-thumb, if your property taxes are about 2 percent or more of your household income, you probably qualify. If you’re a renter, be sure to include a Certificate of Rent paid from your landlord.
Many folks file for this refund when they submit their income taxes in the spring, but many also miss out on this because they forget to file or don’t think they are eligible. For more information visit the Minnesota Dept. of Revenue online.
Gov. Dayton Town Hall in Mankato
Next Wednesday, Gov. Mark Dayton will visit Mankato to hold a Town Hall Meeting about water quality. This is one of 10 meetings the governor is holding throughout the state offering Minnesotans an opportunity to discuss the water quality challenges facing their communities and our state, learn from experts, and engage with policymakers. It’s important for all of us to find solutions enabling Minnesotans to have abundant, clean water they can drink, swim in, and fish in for generations to come. Gov. Dayton has set a “25 by 25 goal” to improve Minnesota’s water quality 25 percent by 2025; you can learn more about this initiative here. The event is free and open to everyone, and I hope you can attend.
WHAT: Mankato – Water Quality Town Hall Meeting
WHO: Gov. Mark Dayton, water quality experts, members of the community
WHEN: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 – 6:30-8:30 p.m.(registration opens at 6:00 p.m.)
WHERE: Minnesota State University, Mankato, Centennial Student Union, 620 S Road
Please continue to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to call or email me anytime.
Sincerely,
Jack Considine
State Representative