The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources makes recommendations each year on how to allocate money from the state. Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
However, the 17-member CommissionA group of legislators and citizens could not agree on a formal recommendation to the funds in fiscal 2023.
Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL–South St. Paul), a member of the commission, sponsors HF3765. As amended, he would appropriate $70.88million from the fund created from proceeds from the state lottery for various programs that received the highest scores in project proposal review.
It was approved by 12-6 Tuesday by House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee and then referred to House Ways and Means Committee.
Hansen stated that this is the highest-ranking score and the highest-ranking vote in all of the effort. I wish we could have had a unanimous vote in 2021, but these are the cards we were dealt. I wish we could have reached an agreement, but we didn’t. It is important that these projects and their proposers, as well as the Minnesotans who voted in favor of this amendment and will vote in the future for another amendment, are selected from the best projects. This proposal, I believe, does that.
Rebecca Nash, director of the commission, stated that the commission received 189 proposals, which accounted for $142 million in requests. The requests were reduced to 99 proposals, each worth $106 million, and the scores were determined.
What is the general idea of this? [bill]Hansen stated that it does. It funds the top-ranking scores, then funds a next level with a 10% cut, and then funds a second layer with a 20% cut, to allow some of those lower-ranked scores to be filled.
The bill would apply:
- $26.1 million for 10 projects related to land acquisition, habitat, and recreation
- 14 projects related to methods to preserve, restore, and enhance land, water, and habitat will receive $14.44 Million
- $10.7 Million for 18 projects related the foundational natural resources data information.
- $15.45 million for 15 projects related to water resources
- $6.4 million for 2 projects related to terrestrial and aquatic invasive species
- For 12 projects that relate to environmental education, $4.64 million
- $1.77 Million for two projects related to air quality or renewable energy.
- $382,000 to cover two appropriations to Department of Natural Resources for administrative or emerging issues.
The appropriations received at minimum 10 votes from the Commission, which is less than the 12 required to be formally recommended by the Commission.
This proposal is still controversial, at least from my point of view within the LCCMR. However, the fundamental difference in why the bill didn’t pass 12 was the opinion of Rep. Dale Lueck, R-Aitkin. My personal opinion, as a member is that it doesn’t reach down small enough in smaller programs and it sends out too much big-picture cash to the major people out there.
Hansen believes funding should not be based on merit but rather according to the scores from the commission review.
Do we put in the time and effort to be the best and choose the best or do we recognize that this special constitutional money should go around? I believe we should select the best. Minnesotans want this.
Based on another set, the companion. SF4043Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake) sponsored the legislation. The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee is expected to take action.