SAINT PAUL – Tonight, the Minnesota House passed a Jobs & Local Projects and Critical Economic Development bill with investments in infrastructure and economic stimulus to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation invests $1.879 billion toward public assets such as higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, roads and bridges, transit, parks, trails, and more.
The bill also contains a package of supplemental funding items, including $7.5 million for the Department of Corrections to maintain ongoing operations at the Togo and Willow River Correctional Facilities as a result of the work of Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing).
“Because of the funding in this critical legislation, the proven, effective, and innovative Challenge Incarceration Program will remain operational, and the dedicated correctional officers and staff – with their glowing track record of helping offenders turn their lives around – can remain on the job,” Rep. Sandstede said. “I’m proud I was able to collaborate with the workers and community members to get this done as part of a grassroots effort. The CIP is an example of something that is working well in our state government, and its success saves the state money due to reduced recidivism. When you have a program that is as successful the Challenge Incarceration Program, we need to continue our investments so the approach can be expanded, not eliminated.”
In August as a result of a budget deficiency, the DOC announced plans to close the facilities, both home to the Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP), a six-month voluntary boot camp style program for eligible offenders that includes chemical dependency treatment, restorative justice, physical training, transition planning, and other programming. Rep. Sandstede successfully amended today’s legislation following a unanimous vote to guarantee the funding will be directed toward “employee compensation costs and continuity of operations” of the CIP at Togo and Willow River.
Within the Locally, the bill funds infrastructure priorities such as new Hibbing Mine View, water level mitigation at the Canisteo and Hill Annex Mine Pits, the East Itasca Joint Sewer Board’s new wastewater treatment system for Nashwauk and surrounding communities, and Floodwood’s wastewater pond stabilization project. A full list of the projects included can be accessed here.
“As we work to put our economy in a position to recover from this pandemic, creating good-paying job opportunities for Minnesotans is critical toward our future success,” said Rep. Sandstede, who serves on the House Capital Investment Division. “Beyond just the jobs, this legislation represents continued opportunity for communities, especially those in rural areas that are counting on investments in basic infrastructure to maintain an excellent quality of life.”
Other budget items in the bill include funding for a temporary pay increase for personal care attendants, $16 million for direct care and treatment programs at the Department of Human Services, $10.3 million to allow the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to test sexual assault examination kits, a salary increase for state troopers to keep them in line with other law enforcement agencies, and others.
The legislation also contains a series of tax provisions, including full section 179 conformity to the federal tax code which will help businesses and farmers. It also contains a policy fix for short-term rental properties, flexibility for the Minnesota State High School League’s sales tax proceeds, and an expansion of the homestead property tax exclusion for the spouses of deceased disabled veterans.