In This Issue:
- State Revenues Update
- Local Taxes Advisory Task Force Releases Draft Report
- Regional Governance Task Force Update
- DEED Contamination Cleanup Grant Awards Announced
- Metro Cities’ 2024 Legislative Policies
State Revenues Update
The net general fund receipts for the state for November and December 2023 are estimated to be $70 million, or 1.4%, above what was anticipated in the November 2023 Budget and Economic Forecast. Individual and corporate income tax receipts are above forecast, and net receipts for sales and other taxes are less than what was forecast. See the latest update HERE. The next Budget and Economic Forecast will be released in late February and will serve to guide the Governor and Legislature in the setting of any supplemental budget.
Local Taxes Advisory Task Force Releases Draft Report
The Local Taxes Advisory Task Force, created by the 2023 Legislature, met on Wednesday afternoon to continue discussion on a variety of issues, and will meet again next week. The Task Force has also issued a draft report, for which they are requesting public comment. The report can be viewed HERE and the online comment form is HERE. The online comment period ends Wednesday, January 17th, at 11:59 pm. Metro Cities is in the process of reviewing the draft report and will provide further updates on the report and the work of the task force as it concludes in a few weeks. Questions? Contact Patricia Nauman at [email protected].
Regional Governance Task Force Update
The Metropolitan Governance Task Force, created by the 2023 Legislature, met on Wednesday morning. The bulk of this week’s meeting was spent discussing the plan for the task force’s final meetings and the process they will use to finalize a report, which is due by February 1, 2024. Task force members are expected to develop proposals for the report over the next week so that they can be shared and discussed at their meeting next week. The task force plans to entertain motions and hold votes at their meeting on January 24. Items being recommended for inclusion in the final report will need a simple majority vote to pass. One member of the task force made a motion at this week’s meeting to identify and include a problem statement for the report. After a lengthy debate with two proposed oral amendments the maker of the motion decided to table their proposal until the 17th. Click HERE to view a recording of Wednesday’s Metropolitan Governance Task Force meeting.
DEED Contamination Cleanup Grant Awards Announced
On Tuesday, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced $2.15 million in Contamination Cleanup and Investigation grants awarded to six communities. Metro area recipients of the grant funding include the city of Maplewood, Minneapolis, Newport, Shoreview, and the St. Paul Port Authority. The Contamination Cleanup Grant program provides up to 75% of the cost to remove contamination at polluted sites, and Metro Cities has been a longstanding supporter for continued funding towards this program.
Applications are due by May 1st and November 1st each year. You can read more about the six awarded projects HERE, and more information about the grant program HERE.
Metro Cities’ 2024 Legislative Policies
Metro Cities’ 2024 legislative policies, which were recommended by four policy committees and adopted by the Board and membership in the fall, are on the association’s website under the Policies and Resources tab. The policy document has been comprehensively reformatted for better readability and viewing, so be sure to check out its new look. Legislative policies serve as the foundation of all Metro Cities’ work at the Capitol and Metropolitan Council. Questions? Please contact Jennifer Dorn at [email protected].