A bill that would increase the amount of money counties are authorized to spend for Memorial Day observances was passed 131-0 by the House March 6.
Sponsored by Rep. Laura Brod (R-New Prague), HF2599 would increase the amount a county board is authorized to spend on the observance to $3,500. The new amount would be effective July 1, 2008, and mark the first increase since the amount was increased from $1,500 to $2,000 in 1984.
Prior to the statutes being passed in 1911 and 1921, counties were not authorized to appropriate any money for Memorial Day exercises.
In addition, the bill would increase from $100 to $300 the amount a county board may appropriate to each post of a recognized military service persons’ organization or society to help pay for Memorial Day exercises. This amount was last increased in 1979.
Received March 10 by the Senate, the bill awaits action by the Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee. Sen. Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy) is the Senate sponsor.