SAINT PAUL – Tonight, the Minnesota House passed a Jobs & Local Projects and Critical Economic Development bill with investments in infrastructure and economic stimulus to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation invests $1.879 billion toward public assets such as higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, roads and bridges, parks, trails, and more. It also contains supplemental state budget appropriations, including funding to keep the correctional facilities at Togo and Willow River operational, and a series of tax provisions to assist businesses and farmers.
“I’m am grateful for all the local leaders and community members who have worked so hard to earn funding for these important projects. Investments like these not only help make regions like ours such an excellent place to live and visit, but will create some good paying construction jobs at a time when too many folks are out of work,” said Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls). “This bill also funds other important priorities such as keeping the Togo and Willow River prisons open, and a wage increase for PCAs who provide vital services in our communities at a time when they are facing increased exposure to COVID-19. It’s no secret we’re going through some difficult times, and this bill will help accelerate our economic recovery.”
In the Northland, projects include the Silver Bay Veterans Home, Lake Vermilion/Soudan Underground Mine State Park, International Falls Airport, the Silver Bay trailhead center, the CSAH 24 overpass south of Ranier, and improvements to trails and other transportation infrastructure. A full list of the projects included can be accessed here.
The bill delivers $7.5 million to the Department of Corrections to keep the correctional facilities at Togo and Willow River operational. The prisons – home to the boot-camp style Challenge Incarceration Program – had previously been selected for closure. Other budget items in the bill include funding for a temporary pay increase for personal care attendants, $16 million for direct care and treatment programs at the Department of Human Services, $10.3 million to allow the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to test sexual assault examination kits, a salary increase for state troopers to keep them in line with other law enforcement agencies, and others.
The legislation also contains a series of tax provisions, including full section 179 conformity to the federal tax code which will help businesses and farmers. It also contains a policy fix for short-term rental properties, flexibility for the Minnesota State High School League’s sales tax proceeds, and an expansion of the homestead property tax exclusion for the spouses of deceased disabled veterans.