Friends,
I have some good news! We just learned this week that Minnesota homeowners are expected to see a $109 million property tax decrease in 2014!
The Minnesota Department of Revenue released new information showing property taxes are projected to decrease for the first time since 2002, thanks to the budget we passed this session. Increased aid to local governments, sales tax exemptions for cities and counties, and direct property tax refunds for hundreds of thousands of homeowners and renters included in new state budget are projected to decrease property taxes next year by an estimated $121 million, or 1.5 percent.
Our Main Street businesses will also see a property tax cut in 2014, a big shift from the previous two years when businesses absorbed $160 million in property tax hikes.
The Homestead Credit Refund provides universal, targeted property tax relief to middle-class homeowners. Under this program, more than 300,000 homeowners (75 percent of filers) will see an average refund increase of $212. More than 150,000 additional homeowners will be eligible for a refund.
Grants available for livestock producers
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is making $1 million in grant funding available to livestock producers for on-farm improvements.
The Livestock Investment Grants help farmers stay competitive and reinvest in their industry. The 179 grant recipients to date have invested an estimated $55 million in upgrades to their operations since the program began in 2008.
Qualifying producers would be reimbursed 10 percent of the first $500,000 of investment, with a minimum investment of $4,000. Qualifying expenditures include the purchase, construction or improvement of buildings or facilities for the production of livestock, and the purchase of fencing as well as feeding and waste management equipment. Producers who suffered a loss due to a natural disaster or unintended consequence may also apply.
The deadline to apply for the grant program is September 23, 2013. More information on the Minnesota Livestock Investment Program can be found on the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/livestockinvestmentgrant .
Moving up
Our promising financial stewardship of the state is being noticed around the nation. Moody’s Investors Service has revised Minnesota’s outlook on general obligation bonds from negative to stable. This is positive news for our state; previous fiscal mismanagement led to the downgrade to negative.
Moody’s gave Minnesota a stable outlook rating due to improved revenue and economic trends in the state, and budget balancing solutions that are largely recurring. Furthermore, they expect that the state will continue to exhibit sound financial practices that will continue to lead to further improvement in our overall balance sheet.
In fact, Moody’s released a statement saying the following:
“Minnesota's rating outlook has been revised to stable reflecting the state's strong financial management that has resulted in improved revenue performance, replenishment of budget reserves, and budget balancing solutions that are largely recurring. Moody's expects that the state will continue to exhibit sound financial practices that will lead to further improvement in the state's overall balance sheet.”
New laws on the books
August 1st will bring some new laws to Minnesota, the most significant is marriage equality. The state’s marriage laws will change from being male/female specific to authorize marriage and divorce of two persons, regardless of gender. It will provide exemptions for churches and other religious associations from providing goods or services related to same-sex marriage ceremonies, if doing so would be in violation of the entity’s religious beliefs.
I am pleased to welcome new couples and families to the institution of marriage as they make long-term loving commitments to one another. I believe in equal rights for all and that includes equal rights to choose who one wants to marry.
Here is a breakdown of some of the other major pieces of legislation going into effect on August 1st is below. You can see the full list of new laws by visiting the House Public Information website.
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A new state law will allow employees at most companies to take paid sick days to care for adult children, spouses, parents, grandparents and stepparents.
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The county where a victim resides will become an eligible venue for cases when a vulnerable adult is financially exploited. The law will also allow such offenses to be aggregated over a six-month period. Supporters said the aggregation is needed to demonstrate the extent of the crime because financial exploitation generally occurs over time, such as misuse of a vulnerable adult’s financial transaction card.
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Minnesota law requires an advanced life-support ambulance to be staffed by at least one emergency medical technician and one paramedic. A new certification, advanced emergency medical technicians, is created and those meeting the qualification will be able to serve as advanced life-support ambulance staff.
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Critically ill people will be allowed, once in a lifetime, to purchase hunting licenses otherwise limited by a lottery drawing under a provision of the omnibus game and fish law. The law will allow veterans with 100 percent permanently disabled status to receive a permanent card allowing them to more easily obtain a hunting license, for deer or small game, free of charge.
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Service animals help people with disabilities navigate through their day-to-day activities. Under current law, it is an unfair discriminatory practice to prohibit these animals from being in a public place. A new law will amend state statute regarding these animals and bring the state in line with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The law also deletes a provision that requires service animals to be properly identified as being trained.
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A new law provides that a person under age 21 who consumes or possesses an alcoholic beverage will not be subject to prosecution “if the person contacts a 911 operator to report that the person or another person is in need of medical assistance.”
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The list of acts that constitutes criminal conduct related to emergency telephone calls will expand. A new law will make it a misdemeanor if someone places a fake 911 call.
Conservation Grants available
The latest Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) grant process opened on Aug. 5. The CPL grant program funds conservation projects that restore, enhance, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife in Minnesota. Members have often expressed interest in securing more Legacy funds for projects in their districts and this program is a great way to do that. I encourage you to get this information out to local governments and non-profits in your communities.
Find out more information about CPL and their application process here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/habitat/cpl/index.html
Stay in touch
Please feel free to contact me with your questions, suggestions and concerns. My office is room 409 in the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-8634 and by email at rep.clark.johnson@house.mn. You can also monitor activities at the House, track bills, watch live video and sign up for my email update list by going to http://www.house.mn.
Sincerely,
Clark