Friends,
This week the bills to create the budget for the next two years began going through the committee process. Below I've highlighted two of the key pieces that will make up our budget in the tax and transportation plans. Read about that and more below.
Rep. Smith with Girl Scout Troop 16199 from Maple Grove
Transportation Bill
The Transportation Omnibus bill was introduced this week and it’s a welcome sight for the millions of Minnesotans who travel on our roads and bridges every day. The bill addresses our statewide need to invest in roads and bridges and does so by using existing resources, not raising taxes.
The plan totals $6 billion over 10 years and includes:
- $25 million for the Small Cities Assistance Program
- $25 million to fund 80 bridges that are a priority of MnDOT
- $98 million for counties and $30 million for city transportation projects
Tax Plan
The House Republican Tax bill uses the $1.6 billion surplus to give Minnesotans long overdue tax relief. The surplus was built by hard-working Minnesotans and our tax bill delivers $1.35 billion in tax relief, prioritizing middle class Minnesotans. Our plan delivers that relief while maintaining our state’s financial stability. More than half of the relief in the bill is directed towards middle class Minnesotans and the tax relief is crafted to not endanger Minnesota’s financial future.
A few key things our tax relief plan does for Minnesotans include are:
- Doubling the income limit at which social security is taxable for Minnesota seniors;
- Providing refundable student loan payment and college savings plan credit for students and their families; and
- Providing expanded education deductions and child dependent care credits for working families
Included in the House tax plan is my bill, HF 732, that will allow Maple Grove more flexibility in creating TIF zones in order to spur economic development. There was also an amendment added today to require a county-wide referendum to increase dedicated transit funds sales tax.
Rep. Smith with students from the Cedar Island Elementary School
REAL ID
It is expected REAL ID will be on the Senate Floor soon. It's imperative that we pass REAL ID this session and I am glad to see the Senate continue to work toward passage.
For further explanation, you can watch a video we put together to explain what REAL ID is and what it does.
High School Basketball Tournament
Congratulations to the Maple Grove Crimson on making it to the State High School Basketball Tournament and good luck to them in the 3rd Place game on Saturday!
Please continue to share your thoughts with me about our state government; bill ideas and concerns are welcomed! I am honored to serve you at the Capitol. My email address is Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, phone number 651-296-5502, and by mail: 375 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Have a great weekend!
Dennis