St. Paul, MN - With the 2023 Legislative Session adjourned for the year, and a new two-year state budget passed into law, State Representative Lucy Rehm (DFL - Chanhassen) delivered millions in investments for her district.
“It’s an honor to serve our Chanhassen and Chaska neighbors in the Minnesota House of Representatives,” said Rep. Rehm. “The investments we made in partnership with our communities will benefit our neighbors in the southwest metro for generations to come.”
Several forms of direct funding for the cities of Chanhassen and Chaska and the surrounding communities come from the new Tax Bill, which includes funding for Public Safety Aid. From this form of aid, Chanhassen is receiving $1,134,967 million and Chaska is receiving $1,222,269 for public safety. Hennepin County is receiving over $47 million in total county aid.
The state’s new, transformational $2.2 billion K-12 Education Budget closes the gaps of the special education and English language learner cross-subsidies, and provides a 4% per-pupil increase in the general education formula in 2024 and a 2% increase in 2025 for an investment totaling $704 million over the biennium. In total, this budget provides over $17 million for Eastern Carver County schools over the next two years and over $15 million for Minnetonka’s public schools.
Separate from the state budget, one of the final bills passed during the legislative session was a $2.6 billion Capital Investment bill, delivering one-time funds to shovel-ready projects throughout the state. In the southwest metro, Highway 5 will receive $20 million for safety improvements, $10 million to fix Carver County Highway - CSAH 18, and $5.425 for Chaska City Square West amenities.
Among the statewide investment victories authored by Rep. Rehm that came out of the legislature this year include a $4 million increase per year for Minnesota’s Regional Public Library system, the creation of a new Traffic Safety Council to reduce statewide roadway fatalities, an e-bike tax credit to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway.
###