Legislature Debates Legacy Amendment Funding

Environmental spending proposals from two citizen-legislator oversight groups are currently being debated in the state legislature. Up to $140 million may be available for environmental spending as a result of the passage of a constitutional amendment during last year's elections.

The Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council (LOHC) was established by the state legislature to make annual recommendations for use of the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which receives 33 percent of the sales tax revenues resulting from the amendment. The LOHC has made its final recommendations on how to spend $69.5 million in conservation and preservation money. Among the LOHC's recommendations is $20 million to buy about 188,000 acres of forestland near Grand Rapids, $20 million for wetland projects, and about $14 million for both prairie restoration and wildlife habitat protection.

The Clean Water Council was established through the 2006 Clean Water Legacy Act and makes recommendations on clean water funding priorities. The council has made recommendations for sewage-treatment projects, protection of drinking-water sources, and prevention of polluted runoff from entering lakes and streams.

While the two group's recommendations have been taken under consideration, the final decisions on funding will be made by the state legislature. That has many concerned that the new money for the environment will be used to supplant current environmental funding in order to improve the state's difficult budget situation. The amendment clearly states that the funds created by the three-eighths percent sales tax increase must be used to supplement existing funding.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's 2010-2011 budget proposes 0.93 percent of general fund be spent on conservation and the environment, down from 1.2 percent during the 2008-2009 budget.

More information about the amendment can be found at theamendment.org.