Heritage amendment will be on November ballot
The first significant act of the 2008 state legislative session in February was approval by both chambers of a proposed Heritage amendment to the state constitution. It will appear on the November ballot and if approved by voters, would earmark about $290 million annually for 25 years for clean water, fish and wildlife habitat, parks and trails, and arts programs. A three-eighths cent increase in the state sales tax would generate the money, needed to bolster chronically inadequate conservation funding.
The proposed amendment, which did not require the governors signature to be placed on the ballot, won overwhelming majorities in both houses of the legislature February 14. The money would be divided as follows:
- 33 percent to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game and wildlife
- 33 percent to a clean water fund to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater
- 14.25 percent for parks and trails of regional or statewide significance
- 19.75 percent for arts programs
The legislatures approval of the amendment culminates eight years of work by advocates to win support for the measure. At a little over 1% of the annual budget, the states conservation spending is close to its lowest level in 30 years.
The ballot question will read:
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?