Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Transportation funding remains an <br />obstacle for session adjournment <br /> <br />Anne Finn <br /> <br />Members of the Transportation <br />Funding Conference Committee last <br />week listened to hours of public <br />testimony on the bills they are <br />charged with reconciling (HF 3364/ <br />SF 2812). Discussions fucused on a <br />range of issues, including roads vs. <br />transit, proposed changes to the <br />County State Aid Highway (CSAH) <br />funding furmula, and a gas tax <br />increase. Members voted to accept or <br />reject less controversial provisions, but <br />made no progress toward consensus <br />on funding amounts or mechanisms. <br /> <br />Roads ws. transit <br />The committee heard from advocates <br />on both sides of the roads/transit issue. <br />Transit advocates from greater Minne- <br />sota and the metropolitan area argued <br />for a multi-modal package. House <br />Republicans have indicated a clear <br />preference for road funding. They are <br />appear somewhat willing to provide <br />dollars to improve bus services, but <br />have resisted all rail projects. Senate <br />leadership maintains transit, including <br />rail, must be part of any transportation <br />solution. <br />Significant time was spent discuss- <br />ing a proposed change to the CSAH <br />formula. The Senate bill contains a <br />change in the current formula that <br />would provide a greater share of the <br />funding for the metropolitan area. <br />A comparison follows: <br /> <br />Current CSAHfonnula <br />. 10 percent to all counties <br />. 10 percent based on each county's <br />proportional share of vehicle <br />registrations <br />. 30 percent according to each <br />county's proportional share of <br />county state aid lane miles <br />. 50 percent on the basis of "needs." <br />"Need" is defined as the cost of <br />construction required to reconstruct <br /> <br />all CSAH miles to meet full state <br />aid design standards. <br /> <br />Senate CSAH proposal <br />. 10 percent to all counties <br />. 10 percent according to each <br />county's proportional share of <br />county state aid lane miles <br />.. 30 percent on the basis of population <br />. 50 percent on the basis of needs <br />The new CSAH formula would <br />apply ouly to revenue generated by <br />an increase in the gas tax, while the <br />distribution would remain the same <br />for the current 20-cent gas tax. All <br />counties_ would receive more money <br />than they currently receive. The com- <br />mittee took no action on this issue. <br /> <br />Gas tax increase <br />Finally, an overwhelming number of <br />testifiers expressed support for a gas <br />tax increase. House Republicans have <br />taken a strong position against this <br />provision saying Minnesotans do not <br />want to pay higher taxes and that the <br />use of gas tax funds for transit unfairly <br />places the funding burden on the <br />single occupancy vehicle drivers who <br />will expect better roads. <br />Even though the conference <br />committee is holding meetings, <br />discussions on the transportation <br />funding package appear to be stalled. <br />Members need direction from <br />leadership before proceeding on the <br />big decision items. <br />Conferees are: Rep. William <br />Knisle (R-Rochester), Rep. Mary Liz <br />Holberg (R-Lakeville), Rep.AlJuhnke <br />(DFL- Willmar), Rep. Tony Kiellcucki <br />(R-Lester Prairie), Rep. Tom Workman <br />(R-Chanhassen), Sen. Dean Johnson <br />(DFL- Willmar), Sen. Dave Johnson <br />(DFL-Bloomington), Sen. Mark <br />Ourada (R-BuJfalo), $en.Julie Sabo <br />(DFL-Mpls.), and Sen. Roy Terwilliger <br />(R-Edina). ~ <br /> <br />Bonding conference <br />committee inches <br />toward progress <br /> <br />Jennifer O'Rourke <br /> <br />Last week, the Senate and House <br />conferees fur the Capitol Investment <br />Conference Committee agreed on <br />a spending totaling approximately <br />$740 million. Senate Majority Leader <br />Roger Moe (DFL-Erskine) and <br />Senate Minority Leader Dick Day <br />(R-Owatonna) signed off on the <br />spending target, but House Speaker <br />Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) did not <br />approve the bonding target as much <br />remains to be negotiated with the <br />ending of the 2002 session. <br />The Senate conferees have made <br />two offers to the House side with cuts <br />to a variety of the projects in the bond- <br />ing bill; the House has not proposed a <br />counteroffer. The committee does not <br />expect to meet pnblicly anytime soon. <br />Bonding bill politics will most likely <br />be played out until everything at the <br />Legislature has been negotiated. <br />If you have questions on a specific <br />bonding project, please contact <br />Jennifer O'Rourke, LMC, at (651) <br />281-1261 orjorourke@lmnc.org.~ <br /> <br /> <br />DON'T FORGET - <br /> <br />You can register <br />for any of the <br />League's events <br />at our web site: <br /> <br />www. <br />lmnc. <br />org <br /> <br />April 17,2002 <br /> <br />Page 7 <br />