06/09/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Paul Gardner State Representative District 53A Anoka and Ramsey Counties .- s-hr I 19l1. L Ua c wt „ igkoo2 Minnesota House of Representatives COMMITTEES: VICE - CHAIR, MINNESOTA HERITAGE FINANCE DIVISION ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FINANCE DIVISION ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ENERGY FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION June 9, 2008 To: Lino Lakes City Council RE: Legislative Session Update Transportation bill: The successful override of the Governor's veto will provide additional funds for roads and bridges at the county, city, and township level. Rice Creek Regional Trail: The Legislature passed legislation to fund the final link of the Trail as part of the bonding bill (HF380), although the Governor removed the project with a line -item veto. Senator Rummel and I carried the original bill (HF2461/SF2280). Partial funding may now be available from some Metro Parks dollars still available to Anoka County through the LCCMR (lottery funds) in SF2492, Section 2, Subdivision 3(i), now part of 2008 Session Law, Chapter 367. Thanks to the mayor for coming to testify in the House and Senate. Lino Lakes Library: The Legislature included language in the omnibus tax bill to allow Anoka County to build a new regional library in Lino Lakes by removing the dollar levy limit for Anoka County libraries in statute. Senator Betzold and I carried the original bill HF2763, which became part of HF3149 and is now part of 2008 Session Law, Chapter 366, Article 5, Section 10. The added property taxes to a house valued at $216,000 are estimated to be $1.82 a year. Fiscal disparities subsidy for Mall of America: The original proposal to subsidize the construction of the Mall of America expansion included dipping into the fiscal disparities program. After so many legislators (including me) protested against the use of this program that gives relief to Anoka County property taxpayers, the fiscal disparities portion of the proposal was removed. Property tax refund: After the Senate passed a tax bill that would provide property tax relief by focusing only on local government aid (LGA), I led a group of two dozen suburban legislators in promoting direct property tax relief to taxpayers through more funds for the property tax refund (PTR) program (HF4188). This idea was embraced by the House Tax Committee and was included in the final tax bill (HF3149), which passed the legislature and is now part of 2008 Session Law, Chapter 366, Article 1, Section 1. Levy limits: While the legislature understands that levy limits often do not accomplish long -term reductions in property taxes, the Governor insisted on limits in the end -of- session negotiations. 890 Dawn Ave., Shoreview, Minnesota 55126 State Office Building, 100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 -1298 FAX: (651) 296 -2080 Email: rep.paul.gardner @house.mn (651) 797 -4317 (651) 296 -2907 s