STATE OF MINNESOTA SIXTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
Property Tax and Local Government Finance Division
MINUTES
Representative Drazkowski, Chair of the Property Tax and Local Government Finance Division, began the meeting at 8:18 A.M. on April 9, 2015, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve, Chair
QUAM, Duane, VC
ANDERSON, Paul
DAVNIE, Jim
ERICKSON, Sondra
HERTAUS, Jerry
KOZNICK, Jon
LENCZEWSKI, Ann
LIEN, Ben
MARQUART, Paul
PINTO, Dave
SIMONSON, Erik
VOGEL, Bob
WHELAN, Abigail
YOUAKIM, Cheryl
Members excused:
MCDONALD, Joe
Chair Drazkowski began the meeting at 8:18 A.M. A quorum was NOT present.
Chair Drazkowski called the meeting to order at 8:19 A.M. A quorum was present.
Representative Vogel moved that the minutes of April 8, 2015 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chair Drazkowski moved HF2034 for further consideration.
HF2034 (Quam): First class city per capita aid limits imposed.
J.D. Burton, Director of Government Relations, City of St. Paul, testified on HF2034.
Bradley Peterson, Lobbyist, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, testified on HF2034.
Chris Parsons, President, Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters, testified on HF2034.
Vice-Chair Quam testified on HF2034.
Patricia Nauman, Executive Director, Metro Cities, testified on HF2034.
Representative Simonson moved that HF2034 be tabled until July 1, 2016.
Representative Simonson requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES DAVNIE, Jim
LIEN, Ben
MARQUART, Paul
PINTO, Dave
SIMONSON, Erik
YOUAKIM, Cheryl
NAYS
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve QUAM, Duane ANDERSON, Paul HERTAUS, Jerry KOZNICK, Jon
VOGEL, Bob
ABSENT
ERICKSON, Sondra
LENCZEWSKI, Ann
MCDONALD, Joe
WHELAN, Abigail
On a vote of 6 AYES and 7 NAYS THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Chair Drazkowski moved that HF2034 be laid over for possible inclusion in the division report.
Vice-Chair Quam assumed the gavel at 9:30 A.M.
Chair Drazkowski moved that HF1707 come before the committee.
HF1707 (Drazkowski): Environment and natural resources trust fund payment account established, trust fund payments to counties provided, and money appropriated.
Chair Drazkowski testified on HF1707.
Chair Drazkowski moved the H1707A3 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Kent Sulem, General Counsel and Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Association of Townships, testified on HF1707.
Matt Hilgart, General Government Policy Analyst, Association of Minnesota Counties, testified on HF1707.
Lance Ness, President, Fish and Wildlife Legislative Alliance, and President, Anglers for Habitat, testified on HF1707.
Kirk Schnitker, Attorney, testified on HF1707.
Gary Botzek, Executive Director, Minnesota Conservation Federation, testified on HF1707.
Vice-Chair Quam recessed the meeting at 10:05 A.M.
Vice-Chair Quam reconvened the meeting at 12:55 P.M. in Room 300 North of the State Office Building.
Eric Willette, Property Tax Research Director, Minnesota Department of Revenue, presented an overview of County Program Aid.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF2016 come before the committee.
HF2016 (Backer): County program aid modified.
Representative Backer testified on HF2016.
Matt Hilgart, General Government Policy Analyst, Association of Minnesota Counties, testified on HF2016.
Keith Carlson, Executive Director, Minnesota Inter-County Association, testified on HF2016.
Nathan Burkett, County Administrator, Aitkin County, testified on HF2016.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF2016 be laid over for possible inclusion in the division report.
Vice-Chair Quam moved HF1707 for further consideration.
HF1707 (Drazkowski): Environment and natural resources trust fund payment account established, trust fund payments to counties provided, and money appropriated.
Chair Drazkowski testified on HF1707.
Kent Sulem, General Counsel and Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Association of Townships, testified on HF1707.
Chair Drazkowski moved to adopt an oral amendment to the HF1707A3 amendment as follows:
Page 5, line 4 – delete the second “the”. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF1707, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the division report.
Chair Drazkowski moved that HF984 come before the committee.
HF984 (Drazkowski): State general levy phased out over six years, and student achievement levy repealed.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF984 be laid over for possible inclusion in the division report.
Chair Drazkowski moved that HF920 come before the committee.
HF920 (Drazkowski): Rail project expenditure and other powers restricted.
Chair Drazkowski testified on HF920.
Heather Arndt, Hader, testified on HF920.
John Meyer, Stewartville, testified on HF920.
Nora Felton, Cannon Falls, testified on HF920.
Pat Sexton, Lobbyist, Olmsted County, testified on HF920.
Chair Drazkowski moved the H0920A8 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF920, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the division report.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF1649 come before the committee.
HF1649 (Dill): Sustainable Forest Incentive Act early withdrawal allowed.
Representative Dill testified on HF1649.
Vice-Chair Quam moved the H1649A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF1649, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the division report.
Chair Drazkowski moved that HF2077 come before the committee.
HF2077 (Drazkowski): School building bond agricultural credit provided, and money appropriated.
Chair Drazkowski testified on HF2077.
Doug Busselman, Director of Public Policy, Minnesota Farm Bureau, testified on HF2077.
Jerry Schoenfeld, Lobbyist, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, and Minnesota Pork Producers Association, testified on HF2077.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF2077 be laid over for possible inclusion in the division report.
Chair Drazkowski moved that HF1459 come before the committee.
HF1459 (Drazkowski): Statements of proposed taxes provided to be mailed in October, and deadlines within the property tax system modified.
Chair Drazkowski testified on HF1459.
Grace Keliher, Director of Governmental Relations, Minnesota School Boards Association, testified on HF1459.
Clint Gridley, City Administrator, City of Woodbury, testified on HF1459.
Tom Melcher, Director of School Finance, Minnesota Department of Education, testified on HF1459.
Cindy Geis, Auditor-Treasurer and Property Customer Services Director, Scott County, and Legislative Co-Chair, Minnesota Association of County Officers, testified on HF1459.
Keith Carlson, Executive Director, Minnesota Inter-County Association, testified on HF1459.
Matt Hilgart, General Government Policy Analyst, Association of Minnesota Counties, testified on HF1459.
Vice-Chair Quam moved that HF1459 be laid over for possible inclusion in the division report.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:19 P.M.
Representative Steve Drazkowski, Chair
Grant Erickson, Committee Legislative Assistant