In This Issue:
- Metro Cities Breakfast at LMC Annual Conference
- 2024 Metro Cities Policy Committees
- State Revenue Update
- TAB Weighs Solicitation Funding Scenarios
Metro Cities Breakfast at LMC Annual Conference
Metro Cities will host a breakfast at the League of Minnesota Cities 2024 Annual Conference in Rochester on Thursday, June 27th. Breakfast will be held at the Mayo Civic Center, Room 110-111, from 7:45-8:45 am. This is a great opportunity to connect with other metro city officials. If you are at the conference, please join us! See 2024 LMC Annual Conference - League of Minnesota Cities for more information.
2024 Metro Cities Policy Committees
Metro Cities policy committee process will begin in July, and four committees will recommend the association’s legislative policies for 2025. Participation is open to member city elected officials and staff. Committee descriptions and dates are on the website. Please be sure to sign up for the committee(s) you wish to attend. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
State Revenue Update
The May Revenue Review released by the Office of MN Management and Budget (MMB) this week shows the state’s net general fund revenues have increased by $304 million, or 16.7%, more than what was forecast. According to MMB, all major tax types were above the forecast. Year to date revenue receipts are $561 million, or 2.1%, more than the forecast. As with all revenue updates, MMB cautions that results are preliminary and subject to revision.
TAB Weighs Solicitation Funding Scenarios
This week, at their June meeting, the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) discussed potential funding scenarios for the 2024 Regional Solicitation. Following the scoring of submitted solicitation project applications, Metropolitan Council staff developed three funding options for consideration by the TAB and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
The funding scenario options allocate $250 million in federal funds between three modal categories: roadways, transit/TDM, and bike/ped. The first option divides available funds so that each category is funded closest to the midpoint of the TAB-approved modal funding ranges. The second option, focused on safety, removes two transit projects and adds a reconstruction project with high crash reduction benefits. The third option, focused on bike/ped, shifts funds from overprogramming and carbon funding to the bike/ped modal area and places the category to the top of its modal funding range.
Each of the three options fund projects located in all seven counties and in 48 different cities/townships. In debating the scenarios, the TAB also discussed the use of the regional sales tax revenue for active transportation and its potential effect on bike/ped investment throughout the region.
These funding options will be in front of the TAC’s funding and programming subcommittee at their June 20th meeting. The full TAC will consider the pros and cons of the scenarios in early July. With the technical feedback offered by TAC, the TAB will recommend and adopt a funding option at their July 20th meeting. Click HERE for the presentation from the TAB meeting and HERE to view a more detailed document associated with this information item. Questions? Contact Mike Lund at [email protected] or 651-215-4003.