Division ponders Legacy funding

House Legacy Funding Division Chairman Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), gave members homework to complete during the Easter/Passover break. He asked them to find a solution to two issues regarding HF1061, the Legacy funding bill, which he sponsors.

The funds are revenue generated from the voter-approved three-eighths of 1 percent sales tax that will continue through June 2034. The $450.4 million pot is divided into four dedicated funds.

There is inconsistency in how much each fund manager or their recipients want to take off the top for administrative costs. The bill would allow three of the four fund managers to use up to 5 percent of their allocated funds for administrative costs, and for indirect costs and overhead charges. The Outdoor Heritage Fund, managed by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, does not allow reimbursement for indirect costs or overhead.

The division is expected to hear amendments to the bill April 26.

Also facing the division is what formula to use when splitting the Parks and Trails Fund three ways between the Metropolitan Council regional parks system, the Department of Natural Resources and local government grants. A 40/40/20 percent split is recommended in the bill.

Rep. Marion Greene (DFL-Mpls) unsuccessfully attempted to amend the bill to a 42/42/16 percent split. Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown) said, due to the increase of available funds, the 40 percent allocations to the regional parks and the DNR would still equate to more funding than the previous 42 percent level. Adding another 4 percent to the grants programs would help spread the funds even further. Administered by the DNR, the grant program allocated 60 grants totaling $8.5 million over the past biennium, according to DNR officials.

In addition to granting $45.7 million to the Pollution Control Agency and more than $54 million to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for various technical projects, some of the more significant projects that would be funded in the bill include:

• $7.8 million toward acquiring and managing land adjacent to LaSalle Lake to be used as a new state recreation area;

• $5.4 million for phase 3 of the Forests for the Future acquisition and easement program;

• $5 million to provide loans for agriculture best management practices; and

• $2 million for grants to the state’s four children’s museums.

New spending includes creation of an account to pay for ongoing maintenance of forest land easements. The Forests for the Future conservation easement account would cover the costs associated with its program. It also would create a State Capitol Preservation Commission to serve as stewards of the building. As another new funding recipient, county fair boards could apply for arts grants from the Department of Agriculture to enhance, preserve and promote the state’s agricultural heritage.