Ballot has a funding measure

Published 9:22 am Friday, October 17, 2008

This year the Legislature has passed a bill that will authorize the public to vote on whether or not to increase our sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent. Minnesota voters, when they go to the polls on Nov. 4, will have an opportunity to vote on a proposed Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

The question on the ballot will read as follows:

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate funding to protect our drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore our wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve our arts and cultural heritage; to support our parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore our lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034?”

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Yes ____

No ____

How much money would this raise and what would it be used for?

The current general sales and use tax rate is 6.5 percent. Sales tax revenue is deposited in the state general fund. If the ballot question passes, it would increase the general sales and use tax rate by three-eighths of one percentage point (0.375 percent) to 6.875 percent and dedicate the additional proceeds as follows:

33 percent to a newly created Outdoor Heritage Fund to be spent only to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for game, fish, and wildlife (approximately $80 million in FY 2010 and $91 million in FY 2011);

33 percent to a newly-created Clean Water Fund to be spent only to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater, with at least 5 percent of the fund spent to protect drinking water sources (approximately $80 million in FY 2010 and $91 million in FY 2011);

14.25 percent to a newly created Parks and Trails Fund to be spent only to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance (approximately $35 million in FY 2010 and $39 million in FY 2011);

19.75 percent to a newly created Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to be spent only for arts, arts education, and arts access, and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage (approximately $48 million in FY 2010 and $54.5 million in FY 2011).

These figures are estimates from the Minnesota Department of Revenue; the total amount of money available from future sales tax receipts can be greatly affected by general economic conditions in the state.

The money dedicated under the constitutional amendment will be appropriated by law. The dedicated money must supplement traditional funding sources for these purposes and could not be used as a substitute.

This proposal is not something that just came up. It has actually been years in the making and has been proposed for many years but this is the first time it has been passed and moved on to the ballot. In our legislative process it seems that no bill or proposed bill can ever stand on its own merit there always seems to be another project tacked on that will make it either sink or swim. This time, however, I do think that the whole package is worth the tax dollars and we should all benefit from it.

We will not only be voting to help clean up our waters which we are known for (see license plate) but we will be preserving our outdoors as well as the arts and the history of our great state.

To me this is a win-win situation and I have followed this bill that was called the “dedicated funding bill” for some time and was always frustrated when it came close to passage but never quite made it over the hump. This was usually due to some last minute detail or disagreement. I will be voting yes for this bill in November but it is up to everyone to form his or her own opinion on this. We have been taxed for almost everything you can think of so having a chance to vote for something that will enhance our outdoors environment and the arts seems right.

There have been some nice crappies being caught in the channel between the lakes the past couple of weeks. The word “slabs” has even entered into the conversation when talking to local fishermen.

It’s a great time to take advantage of the feeding frenzy that most fish go on just before the winter ice-over. I know it doesn’t seem like there is any “ice” in the near future but we have to remember that when living in Minnesota it can happen almost over night.

This is the time of year when fish are actively seeking out the baitfish and storing up fat for the winter months. Jumbo perch, crappie and the wiley walleye can be found following the baitfish and once a lake turns over the traditional patterns can usually be thrown out and you can find fish at almost any depth.

Now is also a good time to look for bass and muskie. Fountain Lake has a nice bass population and now is the time to seek them out.