New Tax In Minnesota To Fund Conservation

From the Wisconsin Association of Lakes:

Minnesotans approved a constitutional amendment November 4th that will raise the sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent to provide a new pool of funding for outdoors, environmental, arts and cultural programs. The sales tax increase will generate an estimated $300 million a year, and will take effect July 1, 2009. The sales tax increase will be in effect until 2034.

The sales tax increase proposal has been a recurring idea in Minnesota politics. Originally conceived as an “outdoors only” proposal, it remained stuck in the legislature for close to 10 years. With the addition of arts and cultural programs into the mix, enough support was gained to get the proposed amendment out of the legislature and onto the ballot.

A coalition of more than 350 environmental, hunting and fishing, and cultural groups said the amendment was needed because the Legislature has failed to provide enough funding for projects and fears that programs are likely to be squeezed further in the future by constricting state budgets.

The passage of the amendment guarantees a dedicated source of funding for projects that meet the criteria established by law which include; protecting drinking water sources; protecting, enhancing, and restoring wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; preserving arts and cultural heritage; supporting parks and trails; and protecting, enhancing, and restoring lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.