Dear neighbors,
Lots of exciting developments have happened at the Legislature over the past few weeks. Finance committees are unveiling budgets for funding priorities like our children’s education, property tax relief, job creation and more.
I hope you can make it to my upcoming town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 23 to share your feedback and ask questions.
It’s taking place from 6:00-7:30pm at Bryn Mawr Elementary School, located at 252 Upton Ave S in Minneapolis. I’ll be joined by Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Frank Hornstein. We plan to focus our discussion on transportation and taxes, but as always, I want hear your views and concerns on any issue that impacts our neighborhoods.
Here’s some more information on a few of the priorities we’ve been working on to grow the middle class and make our communities stronger.
EDUCATION:
The House DFL K-12 education budget makes historic investments in Minnesota’s students while setting ambitious goals such as fully closing our achievement gap, reaching a 100 percent high school graduation rate, 100 percent literacy rate by third grade, and prioritizing career and college readiness. This plan truly means brighter futures for children from all backgrounds.
The education package fully funds all-day, every day kindergarten and invests $50 million in early learning childhood scholarships, both of which are proven tools for improving test scores, closing achievement gaps, and preparing students for future academic success.
Our plan also increases the basic funding formula for K-12 schools by over $315 million, or $209 per pupil. In addition, we intend to fully pay back the remaining school shift balance of over $800 million.
JOBS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND BONDING PROPOSAL:
The House DFL’s jobs and economic development package puts Minnesotans back to work and grows our economy over the long run.
The plan increases funding by $46 million over the previous biennium, which will go towards programs like the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) and the job creation fund administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). It also includes a substantial tax cut for employers by reducing the rate they pay on unemployment insurance taxes, saving the average employer about $150 per employee.
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS:
The House DFL’s $250 million property tax relief package provides direct relief for homeowners and renters. Up to 1 million Minnesotans will see direct, targeted property tax relief through the proposal.
Property taxes have risen 86 percent in the last decade. Last year, the Republican-controlled Legislature eliminated the Homestead Credit, causing property taxes to increase $370 million statewide. The House DFL plan offers direct property tax relief to middle class Minnesotans by providing $157 million for the Homestead Credit Refund.
Our proposal also includes $15.5 million for the Renter’s Credit, which is a refund that provides direct property tax relief to low- and middle-income renters. 66,000 filers will see a bigger refund and a total of 340,000 renters will see property tax relief through the Renters’ Credit.
This plan puts more money in Minnesotans’ pockets so they can afford their basic needs like groceries, gas, and other necessities.
LIFE AT THE CAPITOL:
I was recently interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio’s All Things Considered to discuss life at the capitol as a first term representative. I chatted with Tom Crann and my Republican college Rep. Marion O’Neill about issues like tax fairness and passing a fair and honest budget. Click here to listen to the interview.
WANTING TO HEAR FROM YOU:
As always, please send me your comments and feedback about our work at the state capitol. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-8659, by email rep.raymond.dehn@house.mn, by postal mail at 423 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
You can also follow me on Twitter at @RaymondDehn or ‘like’ my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RepRaymondDehn.
Sincerely,
Raymond Dehn
State Representative, District 59B