SAINT PAUL, Minn. –This evening, 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, parks, trails, and more. It also contains supplemental state budget appropriations and a series of tax policy changes.
The legislation funds improvements to the city of Spring Park’s water infrastructure, in addition to the Northome Avenue Bridge in Deephaven. A full list of the projects included can be accessed here.
“Minnesotans need access to clean drinking water and reliable transportation infrastructure, especially during a public health crisis”, said Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven), who has championed the local projects for Spring Park and Deephaven residents. “Now more than ever, we need to invest in our local communities throughout the state.”
The legislation also includes a series of supplemental budget items, including $16 million for direct care and treatment programs at the Department of Human Services. In addition, it contains funding for a temporary pay increase for personal care attendants, $10.3 million to allow the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to test sexual assault examination kits, and funding for the State Patrol and Department of Natural Resources to cover overtime costs from the civil unrest this summer.
Finally, the bill contains changes to tax policies, including full section 179 conformity to the federal tax code aimed at helping businesses and farmers. It also has 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.
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