St. Paul, MN – Tonight, the Minnesota House passed a Jobs & Local Projects and Critical Economic Development bill with investments in infrastructure and economic stimulus to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other items, the legislation contains $1.879 billion toward public assets such as higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, transportation, parks, trails, and funding for underserved communities. State Representative Dan Wolgamott (DFL - St. Cloud) voted in favor of the legislation.
“Right now, there are thousands of Minnesotans who have been blindsided by the unprecedented times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and communities across the state are ready to get to the work of helping Minnesota bounce back. This bill is a big part of that,” said Rep. Wolgamott, who serves on the House Capital Investment Division. “The projects we invested in will not only provide the jobs and resources needed for our state’s economic recovery, they will also be staples of our community for years to come.”
In the City of St. Cloud, the bill funds updates to the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex, St. Cloud State University, and the St. Cloud Correctional Facility, as well as the nearby Foley Wastewater Treatment Facility. In addition to investments in aging infrastructure, the bill delivers funding for a temporary pay raise for personal care assistants, $16 million for direct care and treatment programs, $10.3 million to ensure sexual assault examination kits get tested, and a salary increase for state troopers in line with other law enforcement agencies.
The bill also contains a series of tax provisions, including full section 179 conformity for the federal tax code which will help businesses and farmers. It contains a policy fix for short-term rental properties, flexibility for the Minnesota State High School League’s sales tax proceeds, and an expansion of the homestead property tax exclusion for the spouses of deceased disabled veterans.
A full list of projects included in the bill can be accessed here and the legislation itself can be accessed here.
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