Dear Neighbors,
Earlier this week in St. Paul I was honored to attend a gathering in support of Senator David Tomassoni who is currently battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Over 500 people came together to not just honor Sen. Tomassoni for his service to the people of the Iron Range, but to raise money for Never Surrender, an organization working to fund research toward a cure while supporting families and caregivers. It was a moving event with legislators on both sides of the aisle standing together to support our dear friend David, who despite his debilitating condition, continues to fight for our region and the people of Minnesota.
Photo Credit: Ellen M. Perrault
Town Hall March 12
Please plan to join me for a Virtual Town Hall and Community Conversation on Saturday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the 2022 legislative session. I look forward to answering your questions!
The event will take place on Facebook Live over on my page at facebook.com/RepJulieSandstede. You can click here to submit questions in advance of the meeting. If you can’t make it, don’t hesitate to contact me directly anytime with your questions, feedback, and ideas.
New Economic Forecast
Earlier this week, state budget officials announced the February Economic Forecast highlighting a budget surplus of $9.25 billion. This is a historic budget surplus that should set the stage this session to deliver meaningful assistance for workers, seniors, businesses, and students, all of whom have faced daunting challenges the past two years. We should all work together to quickly refill the state unemployment insurance trust fund, get premium bonus checks out to frontline workers, provide resources to our schools, and address the income tax on social security. There’s still some economic uncertainty remaining, especially following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but we have a tremendous opportunity this session to support a brighter future for Minnesotans.
Simplifying, Expanding Property Tax Refunds
This week I presented a pair of bills to the House Property Tax Division aimed at simplifying the formula for Property Tax Refunds while expanding the amounts for the returns. The first bill simplifies Minnesota’s property tax refund system to calculate refund amounts based on federal adjusted gross income as opposed to a more complex formula currently used. Under the bill, over 70% of homeowners and renters currently receiving a refund would receive an increase of about $270, and about 93,000 more Minnesotans would become eligible for a property tax refund.
The other piece of legislation would exclude non-taxable social security income when determining the amount of a property tax refund. Following this change, approximately 252,000 homeowners would see an increase in their Homestead Credit Refund, averaging $350, and 94,000 renters would see an increase in their Renters’ Credit at an average of $290.
The legislation would help more people – especially Minnesota seniors – afford the rising costs they’re struggling with every day, while helping them stay in their homes or pay rent. While there are many good ideas out there this session to help older Minnesotans – including reducing or even eliminating the tax on social security income – these bills are designed to target property tax assistance to those with low or fixed incomes who would experience the greatest benefit from these changes and have a better shot at an economically secure retirement in Minnesota.
Investing in NRRI
This week the House Higher Education Committee discussed my bill to invest $10 million toward new facilities at the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI). The investment would fund lab expansion at NRRI’s Duluth facility and a new mineral processing and metallurgy building at their Coleraine facility. Through partnerships with both the public and private sectors, along with an integrated research model, NRRI works to deliver solutions creating opportunities for natural resource stewardship. NRRI employs over 140 scientists, engineers, technicians, staff, and students across both facilities.
NRRI’s efforts are truly global in scope as they find solutions for water quality issues, improve forest health, and expand our mineral economies in the 21st century. Unfortunately, their current facilities can’t fully support the state-of-the-art equipment necessary to perform emerging types of research. With this one-time investment, we can support their collaborative, groundbreaking work developing tools and technologies to reduce risk and support sound, long-term decisions for Minnesota.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me with your input, ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. You can contact me by phone at 651-296-0172 or email at rep.julie.sandstede@house.mn. You can also follow me on Facebook. It’s an honor to represent you.
Together,
Julie Sandstede
State Representative