Purpose

• To provide funding for a centralized public safety center in the city of New Prague. The bill would support construction, renovation, furnishing, and equipping an expansion of the existing fire hall to house fire, police, and ambulance services for New Prague and nearby communities.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation: 11,500,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of public safety as a grant to the city of New Prague.
• Use of funds: The grant is for constructing, renovating, furnishing, and equipping an expansion of the existing fire hall to create a centralized public safety center.
• Services: The center would provide fire, police, and ambulance services to New Prague and surrounding areas.
• Availability condition: The appropriation may not become available until the commissioner of management and budget determines that at least 11,500,000 has been committed to the project from nonstate sources.
• Bond sale: The state may sell and issue bonds up to 11,500,000 to fund the appropriation, under the terms prescribed by Minnesota law (Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675) and the Minnesota Constitution (Article XI, sections 4 to 7).

Significance and Changes to Law

• Creates a targeted capital investment project for a centralized public safety center in New Prague.
• Introduces a funding contingency based on nonstate (private or local) funding commitments before state funds are released.
• Authorizes the sale of state bonds up to 11.5 million to finance the project, aligning with existing bond issuance processes and constitutional requirements.
• Requires adherence to specified statutory and constitutional frameworks for bond issuance and administration.

Implementation Considerations

• Oversight and administration: The project involves coordination between the commissioner of public safety (grant recipient) and the commissioner of management and budget (fund release trigger and bond issuance).
• Scope: Expands the capacity of a single fire hall into a centralized facility to serve multiple public safety functions for the city and surrounding communities.

Relevant Terms - centralized public safety center - New Prague - expansion of the existing fire hall - grant - construction - renovation - furnish - equip - fire services - police services - ambulance services - nonstate sources / nonstate funding - bond proceeds fund - commissioner of public safety - commissioner of management and budget - sale and issuance of bonds - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI sections 4 to 7