Legacy funds for Capitol revamp

Using Legacy Fund revenue to pay for a $241 million restoration of the State Capitol was met with skepticism March 13.

Rep. Mark Buesgens, (R-Savage) proposes using Arts and Cultural Heritage revenues to pay for extensive remodeling and restoration of the 107-year-old building. Arts and Cultural Heritage is one of four funds created by the 2008 Legacy Amendment.

HF2546, sponsored by Buesgens, would use revenue from that fund, which totaled $52.6 million in 2012, to pay for the work on the Capitol over six years. A different Buesgens approach, tapping $30 million from the fund from 2014 to 2021, is contained in HF2637.

Both bills were laid over for possible omnibus bill inclusion. Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen) sponsors SF2171, a companion for the six-year plan. It awaits action by the Senate Capital Investment Committee. HF2637 has no Senate companion.

Buesgens testified that the restoration fits the state constitution because it preserves Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.

“Clearly, the argument that you can’t use these funds for capital projects doesn’t hold water,” he said. However, Buesgens added that Gov. Mark Dayton favors bonding to pay for the restoration.

David Kelliher, director of public policy and community relations for the Minnesota Historical Society, said Buesgens’ bills raise questions about the initial intent of the Legacy Amendment.

“I see this as a two-part test,” said Kelliher. “It does preserve Minnesota’s history.” He said they fail the second part of the test – whether the bill supplements, rather than substitutes, traditional sources of funding.

Additionally, if cultural heritage is the primary hurdle, “the state owns a rich stock of historic buildings around the state of Minnesota” that are in need of restoration, Kelliher said.

Asked by Rep. David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake) his opinion on using Legacy funds to restore the State Capitol, Division Chairman Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) said he preferred bonding.