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<br />TR~;ST <br />'" <br />Pl;"BLIC <br />LAND <br />/;#1\;- RAMSEY CITY, MINNESOTA <br /> <br />Feasibility Study <br /> <br />funds that currently go to other states. Transit funding in the transportation bill will go <br />toward the following: <br />. Construction of eight new dedicated transitways (i.e. light rail, commuter rail, and <br />bus rapid transit) <br />. Doubling bus ridership by 2020 <br />. Creating better transit facilities and new park & ride capacity <br />. Providing revenue to local governments for bicycle and pedestrian projects <br />. Expanding transit in Greater Minnesota22 <br /> <br />Next November voters in Minnesota will have an opportunity to vote on a constitutional <br />amendment to fund land conservation. TPL Minnesota State and national Conservation <br />Finance staff, working together with a broad coalition of environmental advocates, land <br />conservation organizations, sportsman, and arts supporters succeeded in securing legislative <br />approval for a constitutional amendment to increase the state sales tax by 3/8 of a cent and <br />dedicate these funds to conservation and cultural heritage. If voters approve the amendment <br />funds would be allocated for a variety of purposes, which include: clean water, habitat <br />protection, parks and trails, and arts and culture. <br /> <br />Revenue Options for Parks, Natural Lands, <br />and Open Space <br />Overview <br /> <br />Nationwide, a range of public financing options has been utilized to fund parks, natural <br />lands, and open space preservation, including general obligation bonds, the local sales tax, <br />and the property tax. Less frequently used mechanisms have included special assessment <br />districts, real estate transfer taxes, impact fees, and income taxes. In Minnesota, local <br />government funding options for land conservation have primarily taken the form of general <br />obligation bonds backed by property taxes. Local option sales taxes require special legislative <br />authority in addition to a voter referendum, and Minnesota has historically disfavored sales <br />taxes because of potential regressive impacts. State law also discourages impact fees, but <br />communities in urbanizing areas widely use park dedication of land or fees. <br /> <br />In conclusion, the Trust for Public Land believes that a viable funding option for the City of <br />Ramsey is to issue general obligation bonds, backed by the property tax. <br /> <br />22 Tansit for Livable Communities, http://www.t1cminnesota.org/Resources/Newsletters/Mar08/mar08.html <br /> <br />15 <br />