Donations sought for General Fund

In February, Gov. Mark Dayton received a $1,677.97 check from a resident with direction that the money go toward reducing the state deficit. The donator calculated the amount as their share of the deficit.

In an effort to make it easier to make contributions to the state coffers, Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston) sponsors HF247 that would authorize tax filers to make additional contributions to state government either through designating a portion of their refund or adding an amount to their tax liability.

Approved by the House Taxes Committee April 13, the bill was amended to set a $10 minimum donation. As approved, it now moves to the House floor. Its companion, SF872, sponsored by Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen), awaits action by the Senate Taxes Committee.

Monetary gifts to the state’s General Fund are not common, according to Minnesota Management & Budget. While the department is not required to maintain a list of the gifts for historical purposes, it must maintain the gift acceptance forms for four years; then the records are destroyed.

Current department records show the largest donation was a December 2008 check for $22,685 “to help the needy and sick.”

There were three donations in 2009:

• $83.42, 10 percent of the donor’s state tax refund designated to “General Fund for state expenses”;

• $53 gift as “overpayment of income tax to be applied to state debt”; and

• three $100 bills in an unmarked envelope with the enclosure: “Money I believe I owe the State of Minnesota.”

In 2010 the state received $12,087.29 from the Minnesota Historical Society as the balance from unspent donations made to the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission.