ST. PAUL - The Minnesota House has approved transportation funding legislation that will provide $6 billion to statewide road and bridge needs over the next ten years without raising taxes. State Representative Jason Rarick (R-Pine City) voted in favor of the proposal.
"There's no doubt we should invest in road and bridge improvements, and this bill proves we can do this in a significant way without forcing drivers to pay more at the pump," Rarick said.
The proposal creates a new fund of existing tax revenue streams called the Transportation Priorities Fund. This new fund uses current, transportation-related state tax revenues to make the new investment for roads and bridges.
Additionally, the transportation proposal would permanently fund the popular Small Cities Road Assistance Program, which provides a state revenue stream to cities with fewer than 5,000 residents in order to make needed street repairs.
How would this proposal benefit local cities? Rarick shared the highlights:
Pine County
Askov: $9,808
Brook Park: $8,207
Bruno: $7,535
Denham: $6,573
Finlayson: $10,878
Henriette: $7,885
Hinckley: $27,881
Kerrick: $7,366
Pine City: $37,078
Rock Creek: $44,497
Rutledge: $10,537
Sandstone: $35,337
Sturgeon Lake: $14,920
Willow River: $12,104
Kanabec County
Mora: $46,383
Grasston: $7,363
Quamba: $8,598
Rarick also noted that in County State Aid Highway funding, by 2021 Pine County is estimated to receive $3.35 million more than its 2017 allotment, while Kanabec County is expected to collect an additional $1.3 million.