Purpose

• Authorizes a new funding and bonding plan to support metropolitan regional parks and trails. The bill provides a $20 million appropriation from the bond proceeds fund to the Metropolitan Council to pay for capital improvements, betterments, and the acquisition of regional recreational open-space lands, in line with the council’s policy plan (Minnesota Statutes section 473.147). It also states the money must not be used to purchase easements.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 (Appropriation): $20,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the Metropolitan Council. This money is for capital improvements, betterments, and for the acquisition by the Metropolitan Council and local government units of regional recreational open-space lands, following the council’s policy plan. The funds cannot be used to purchase easements.
• Subdivision 2 (Bond Sale): The Commissioner of Management and Budget must sell and issue bonds up to $20,000,000 to provide the appropriation, using the procedures and requirements in Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution, Article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Funding and Bonding

• Source of funds: bond proceeds fund.
• Bond administration: bonds are to be sold and issued by the Commissioner of Management and Budget under specified state statutes and constitutional provisions.

Eligible Uses and Restrictions

• Eligible uses: capital improvements and betterments for regional parks and trails; acquisition of regional open-space lands by the Metropolitan Council and local government units.
• Restriction: funds may not be used to purchase easements.

Administration and Implementation

• Implementing entity: Metropolitan Council receives the appropriation; the state Department of Finance (through the Commissioner of Management and Budget) handles bond issuance.

Significance and Impact

• Creates a dedicated $20 million funding stream to develop and acquire regional open-space lands linked to the state’s regional parks and trails system, aligned with the council’s policy plan.
• Establishes a specific bonding mechanism to finance these projects through the state’s bond proceeds fund.

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Relevant Terms - Metropolitan Council - bond proceeds fund - capital improvements - betterments - regional recreational open-space lands - local government units - policy plan (Minnesota Statutes 473.147) - easements (prohibition on use for purchase) - bond sale / issuing bonds - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI (sections 4 to 7)