I would like to say thank you to Rep. Bud Heidgerken, Rep. Al Juhnke and Sen. Steve Dille for their willingness to put partisan politics aside and vote for the best interests of their districts.
These legislators voted in favor of legislation that will fix roads, improve the safety of our bridges and expand transit service in greater Minnesota. Despite pressure from political leaders to support the party line, these legislators were committed to doing what's best for their constituents and deciding for themselves how to vote on the transportation funding bill.
For central Minnesota, the transportation funding bill enacted into law over the veto of the governor will mean real money for counties and cities. For example, Kandiyohi County will see an annual average increase in county highway dollars from the state of 16 percent, totaling over $14 million in the next 10 years. Pope, Stearns, Meeker and McLeod counties will receive similar increases in highway funding.
Cities will also receive additional state dollars, including Litchfield, Willmar and Hutchinson. MnDOT will also have more money to repair state highways and bridges in our area. The additional funding that will be coming from state transportation user fees will reduce the pressure to raise local property taxes.
The transportation funding bill was supported by businesses including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, agricultural groups including the Farm Bureau and Farmer's Union, labor unions, local governments and many other organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. Heidgerken, Juhnke and Dille understood that the state of our transportation system has deteriorated and action is needed or the problem will only grow worse and more costly for taxpayers.
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We should all be proud to be represented in St. Paul by these legislators. They will fight to make sure that needs in Greater Minnesota are addressed.
