AHEAD OF BUDGET FORECAST, REP. PEGGY BENNETT URGES SUPPORT FOR GOP TRANSPORTATION PLAN
ALBERT LEA, MN—Ahead of this Friday's February Budget Forecast, Representative Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, is urging support for a long-term transportation plan that would invest $7 billion in state roads and bridges over the next 10 years without an increase in the gas tax. In total, the plan would repair or replace more than 15,500 lane miles of road and 330 bridges statewide.
“In my conversations with people in our local communities there has been a consistent theme: that long-term transportation funding needs to be a top priority in 2016,” said Rep. Bennett. “With a significant budget surplus, there is genuinely no good reason to raise taxes to pay for transportation infrastructure. We can fix our roads and bridges without tightening budgets for individuals and families; our plan accomplishes that.”
Over the next ten years, the Republican proposal invests:
$4.03 billion for state roads
$1.44 billion for county roads
$583 million for municipal roads
$282 million for small cities under 5,000
$139 million for Greater Minnesota bus services
$60 million for township roads & bridges
The Republican proposal creates a special fund called the Transportation Stability Fund that collects existing proceeds from dedicated tax revenues and deposits them into accounts for each of their dedicated purpose. There are five accounts that would dedicate a combined $3.078 billion over ten years:
1. Road and Bridge Account – revenue from existing sales tax on auto parts
2. Metro Capital Improvements Account – revenue from existing sales tax on rental vehicles
3. Small Cities Account – revenue from existing rental vehicle tax
4. Greater Minnesota Bus Services Account – revenue from 50% of existing Motor Vehicle Lease sales tax
5. Suburban County Highway Account – revenue from 50% of existing Motor Vehicle Lease sales tax
In addition to the dedicated funds provided by the Transportation Stability Fund, the Republican proposal uses $1.3 billion in Trunk Highway bonds, $1.2 billion from realigning Minnesota Department of Transportation resources, $1.05 billion in General Obligation bonds, and $228 million in General Funds.
Expanding funding for the Small Cities Program is one of the major components of the GOP plan. The program, which was created thanks to GOP leadership in 2015, resulted in $230,244 in small cities funding for District 27A, including approximately $27,003 for Blooming Prairie, $31,654 for Wells, and $13,990 for Alden. Under the GOP plan, cities in District 27A would receive ongoing small cities funding every two years beginning in 2017, including $26,000 for Clarks Grove, $30,000 for Glenville, and $48,000 for Hayfield
“One of the central parts of our transportation bill is long-term funding for small cities,” said Bennett. “With our plan, cities like Keister and Twin Lakes would get ongoing funding from the State to repair potholes, and maintain our local roads.
“I look forward to working on this bill in the upcoming session. It’s my hope that we can work with colleagues across the aisle and prioritize roads and bridges - a huge need in Greater Minnesota and the Metro - instead of putting unnecessary funding toward trains in Minneapolis and St. Paul.”
Legislators are also working to pass a tax bill this upcoming session and Rep. Bennett will continue to advocate for significant tax relief in the event of a large budget surplus.
The 2016 session is set to begin on March 08, 2016.
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