Decisions on voter-approved Legacy Amendment face state officials

Now that 1.6 million Minnesota voters have approved a 25-year state constitutional amendment earmarking conservation and heritage funding, whats next? Citizens will begin to find out in the next several weeks as both Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature make initial proposals for investing the funds in clean water, parks and trails, fish and wildlife habitat, and arts and cultural heritage projects.

The amendments three-eighths percent sales tax increase takes effect July 1, 2009, meaning revenues will not be available until the coming fiscal year. The tax is expected to raise between $250 million and $300 million per year.

The legislation placing the amendment on the ballot last year specifically declared that the new funding was intended to supplement, not replace, existing conservation funding, so one of the key issues will be whether officials significantly cut non-Amendment conservation programs to offset part of a two-year, $5 billion state budget deficit.

Although the Legislature and Governor will make final decisions on spending of revenue from the Amendment, a new board, the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council, will recommend habitat conservation project priorities. The 12-member council includes four appointees each of the Governor, Senate and House.

No advisory board has a formal statutory role in advising officials on clean water projects, but the Clean Water Council, created in 2006 to oversee the states Clean Water Legacy program, is expected to be consulted.