Friends,
Labor Day marks the official end of the State Fair and signals the unofficial end of summer here in Minnesota. It also marks the beginning of the school year for most students and teachers. In my update this week I recap some of the great things we did during the 2017 Session for our schools and also a bit about tax incentives available for parents of students.
This weekend, September 8th-10th, is also Inver Grove Heights Days. There will be fun and games for the whole family. I'll be in the parade so make sure you say hi!
Tour around 52B!
Recently, we put together a video that highlights some of the great and beautiful parts of District 52B, which encompasses Inver Grove Heights, Sunfish Lake, parts of Mendota Heights and Eagan. I think it turned out very well and am proud to represent such a fantastic place to live. Check out the video here!
K-12 Funding & Key Reforms
The 2017 Legislature made a significant investment into our children's future. I authored the bill to meet the 2% yearly increase to the per-pupil formula that was requested by our school districts and statewide our schools will see more than $1.3 billion in increased funding. We also sough to give more local control to school districts by ending the "Last In, First Out" default layoff policy so schools can keep the best teachers in the classroom.
From the per-pupil increase the school districts in our area will see a combined $15.3 million in increased funding over the next two years. Making this significant investment into our schools combined with real reforms to keep the best teachers in the classroom means we are one step closer to making sure every student in the state of Minnesota has access to a world-class education.
Tax Breaks for Families with Students
I wanted to make sure parents know about tax incentives that may allow them to keep more of their hard earned money come tax season. Minnesota has both a credit and a subtraction for education expenses.
Most school supplies qualify for the credit or subtraction, including writing utensils, textbooks, and musical instrument rentals. Common items that don’t qualify for the subtraction or credit include school lunches, uniforms, backpacks, and more. Parents are encouraged to check the Revenue website to determine which expenses qualify.
While the education subtraction is not subject to income limits, the credit is limited to households with incomes less than $37,500 for families with 1-2 children, $39,500 for families with 3 children, and adding $2,000 per child for families with 4 or more children. According to the Department of Revenue, more than 43,000 families took advantage of the education credit saving an average of $242. In all, nearly 200,000 families took advantage of the education subtraction.
Full details about the Education Subtraction and Credit can be found on the Department of Revenue’s website: http://www.revenue.state.mn.us.
On this day in History
The United States received its Uncle Sam nickname in 1813. It is linked to a meat packer named Samuel Wilson who labeled barrels of meat with the initials U.S.and soldiers during the War of 1812 began to refer to the meat as Uncle Sam's. Also, in 1876 the Jesse James Gang attempted the daytime robbery of a bank in Northfield Minnesota. It did not end well of them as Northfield, Minnesota celebrates the Defeat of Jesse James Days every year.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with me. You can schedule a time to meet with me in my office any time by calling me at 651-296-4192, or share your thoughts by emailing me at rep.regina.barr@house.mn.
Have a great summer!
Regina