On Thursday, March 5th, 2015, MLR Executive Director spoke at the House Environment, Natural Resources Policy and Funding Committee in opposition to House File 570, a bill that would repeal the $10 million County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Aid put in place last session.
On Friday, January 16th, in a packed room at the opening of the 2015 DNR Roundtable, Governor Dayton announced that he was asking the DNR to enforce a 50 foot buffer zone on all riparian property in the state.
Governor Dayton offered few details, and the announcement seemed to be a complete surprise to the more than 300 attendees. Since then agencies like the MN DNR, BWSR and Agriculture, together with interested groups, including MLR, have been meeting, and some basic details are beginning to emerge.
In 2001, as part of the Jesse Ventura tax overhaul, the Minnesota legislature created the State Business Property Tax which applies to commercial industrial property and, inexplicably, cabin properties. Originally, a portion of the tax was intended to go to local school districts, but was redirected to the State General Fund the year following enactment.
This new tax includes an automatic inflator and has increased since then to almost $1 billion a year.
2014 Tax Tips for Forest Landowners
As a forest owner, understanding tax law is an important part of owning and managing timber, participating in forest stewardship activities, and complying with tax law.
New AIS Fact Sheet Available - Understanding AIS and AIS Prevention
MLR has long understood that Minnesota's family lake places are heirlooms, not assets. Independent research shows that the average (mean) length of ownership of a Minnesota cabin is 25 years, and that 86% intend to leave their place to children and grandchildren. For many Minnesotans, the lake is where family happens. But with current inheritance and tax laws, combined with ordinary family dynamics, make the transition from one generation to the next does not happen without some planning.
Aquatic Invaders Summit
An Exploration of Collaboration, Innovation and Opportunity
SAVE THE DATE: Jan. 20-21, 2015
The 2014 Legislature established a $10 million annual Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention Aid Program to counties, and appropriated $4.6 million through the Outdoor Heritage Fund to fund pilot programs to test local innovation for AIS prevention. Minnesota’s focus of AIS efforts and resources at the local level is not only likely to continue, but to increase in the future.
This year the legislature passed and Governor Dayton signed innovative legislation to protect our lakes sending $10 million in Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention aid to counties. This annual appropriation will be divvied between the counties based on the number of public boat launches combined with the number of watercraft trailer parking spaces in each county. The first instalment arrived July 20th. This remarkable innovation puts funding at the source, where it is most needed and can do the most good. And that is the problem.
For years MLR and Lake advocates have urged the Minnesota Legislature to provide adequate funding for a comprehensive statewide program to stop the introduction of new aquatic invasive species and further spread of AIS within the state. Funding is desperately needed for local, boots-on-the-ground work at access sites across the state. Permanent regional decontamination units are central to any program to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Senate File 2342 introduced March 7, 2014 by Senators Rod Skoe and Ann Rest provides county aid based on the number of watercraft access sites and watercraft trailer parking spaces to meet this need. Rep Ann Lenczewski intends to introduce a companion bill in the Minnesota House early the week of March 10th.
The future health of Minnesota's iconic lakes and rivers may well depend on passage of this year's bonding bill. The research center will be unable to continue without the funding to build a secure lab. “It is do or die,” said Dr. Sorenson at the February meeting of the Statewide AIS advisory Committee. Without additional funding, MAISC will have to close before it really gets started. Said Dr. Sorenson, “Our Center's request for an AIS and holding lab, via the University bonding bill, is essential to our continued existence.”
