Dear Friends,
Some good news to report from the State Capitol this week, as well as from our legislative district!
SAFE SCHOOLS CONTINGENCY FUNDING
In 2018, the Legislature approved $25 million in funding that could be used by schools across the state to improve safety within their buildings.
In 2019, lawmakers chose to build upon this program by funding an additional one-time $30 million funding infusion into the Safe Schools Supplemental Aid program. The funding is provided to each school district and charter school on a per pupil basis, and the supplemental aid must be used for expenditures as authorized under the Safe Schools Levy.
For local schools, this amounts to more than $120,000 for Albert Lea, nearly $11,000 for Glenville-Emmons, more than $25,000 for Blooming Prairie, and roughly $24,000 each for Hayfield and United South Central.
I know local schools can put this funding to good use, and am pleased we’ve continued the program.
HEALTH INSURANCE RATES STABLE THANKS TO REPUBLICAN REFORMS
The 2020 individual health insurance market rates have been released, and for the third consecutive year, Republican-led reforms have helped reduce or hold flat individual market health insurance rates after years of double-digit increases following the implementation of Obamacare in Minnesota.
All five of the carriers on the individual market are lowering premiums or effectively holding premiums flat for 2020, with average rates ranging between a .18% increase and a 20 percent decrease. There will also be 39 more health plan options in 2020, and every county will have at least two offerings in the individual market.
This is welcome news for those who purchase their health insurance on the individual market. From 2014-2017, average rates increased by double digits every year, including up to 67 percent for 2017. It appears to me the reforms we approved three years ago are working. There is a lot more work to do in the area of healthcare affordability and access, but this is a good start!
DISASTER RELIEF MONEY COMING TO ALBERT LEA
On Thursday, Governor Tim Walz authorized the use of Minnesota’s Disaster Assistance Contingency Account to help pay for damage caused by severe winds, rainfall, and flooding in mid-July, including those damages in Albert Lea.
These powerful storms really caused a significant amount of damage in Albert Lea. I know the city will find the disaster relief funding very helpful, and I’m pleased the governor took action.
More than $207,000 will be allocated. Nearly $122,000 is dedicated to the City of Albert Lea, while nearly $86,000 is designated for the Freeborn Mower Coop.
The legislature created the Disaster Assistance Contingency Account in order to avoid calling special sessions to allocate any disaster funding.
LOCAL AREA EVENTS
I was honored to be a part of the groundbreaking ceremony for Riverland Community College’s new construction project.
This project will enhance the college’s trade programs and bring the truck driving program from the Austin to the Albert Lea campus. This will be a great boost for trades instruction for our area. Acquiring state bonding dollars for this project has been one of my goals since I started office in 2015, as I could see the huge benefit this could be for both students and businesses in our area. I am happy to say that goal was achieved in the 2018 bonding bill.
Congratulations, Riverland Community College! Keep up the great work!
Recently I also had an interesting tour of the KSMQ Public Television transmitter which is located in Grand Meadow, MN. KSMQ is the local public TV station in our area. I wanted to learn more about these transmitters and their importance because KSMQ and the other public television stations in Minnesota are requesting bonding dollars to update their regional transmitters.
It’s always good for me to learn about projects like these first hand. Thank you to KSMQ president, Eric Olson, and station engineer, Paul Fisher, for the very informative tour!
Finally, it might have been wet and muddy on Saturday, but the people were warm and friendly at the Big Island Rendezvous in Albert Lea.
It’s my favorite event of the year, and I had a great time despite the rain!
Talk to you soon,
Peggy