Friday, July 22, 2011
As of Thursday, 11 state parks are fully open, and 15 parks are partially open.
“Welcome back. We missed you.” It was the first thing Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner Tom Landwehr said before announcing that the opening of Minnesota state parks, forests and facilities is ahead of schedule. Originally scheduled to open at 8 a.m. Friday morning, Landwehr reported that as of 11 a.m. Thursday, 11 state parks are fully open, with an additional 15 parks partially open. (Check out this link for a list of the operational status of all DNR facilities.) While more than 2,700 DNR employees returned to work Thursday morning, Parks and Trails Director Courtland Nelson, explained that the most pressing job is still assessing the condition of the parks. “We’ll be checking water and sewer lines and debriefing …
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Dayton signed the bills, ending the 20-day shutdown.
The budget has been signed. The shutdown is over. Insults were hurled. Accusations were made. Pleas were ignored. But in the end, the people’s business was finished. WHAT WENT DOWN Gov. Mark Dayton just signed into law all 12 budget bills passed in the middle of the night Wednesday by the Minnesota House and Senate. Dayton’s signatures ended the shutdown of Minnesota government—at 20 days, it was the longest continuous shutdown of any state government in United States history. In the end, Dayton kept his promise that he wouldn’t sign any of the bills until all 12 had passed through both houses of the legislature. At the start of the marathon special session, it seemed as though the process would be over quickly. In its first hour, the …
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Offer closes $1.4 billion budget difference through school aid shifts, tobacco bonds.
Gov. Mark Dayton has “reluctantly" agreed to the last Republican budget offer made on June 30 with conditions—a move that could end the state shutdown if Republicans agree. That offer generates $700 million dollars through further school aid shifts, and issues $700 million in “tobacco bonds” to cover the rest of the $1.4 billion gap between the governor and state Republicans. The governor sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch and Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers on Thursday that said that while he doesn't necessarily agree with the method of resolving the budget impasse, he does think it's necessary to end the shutdown as soon as possible. "I am willing to agree to something I do not agree with—your proposal—to spare our …
Monday, July 11, 2011
Fifteen bus routes currently serve the city of Minnetonka.
Metro Transit has proposed cutting bus routes throughout the metro within the next year because of potential funding cuts from the Minnesota state Legislature. The Metropolitan Council is bracing to lose 85 percent of the state's general fund contribution to transit for 2012-2013 if the Minnesota state Legislature passes the latest budget plan at the end of the state government shutdown—a worst-case scenario reduction of $109 million. If the actual budget echoes these projections, the Met Council says it will be forced to slash or limit 130 of 146 bus routes across the Twin Cities. It also faces elimination of most suburban local and crosstown bus routes and fare increases of 25 to 50 cents per ride. Met Council officials haven’t named …
Friday, July 1, 2011
No compromise was reached at the statehouse.
The state of Minnesota has officially shut down. After weeks of intense negotiations, capped by closed-door sessions through Thursday’s waning minutes, Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican lawmakers failed to agree on an operating budget for the coming biennium. “I deeply regret that after two days of intense negotiations we have failed to reach an agreement,” Dayton said during a 10:30 p.m. press conference in his office. Dayton continued: “I offered a plan to raise the taxes of only those Minnesotans who make more than $1 million per year. That is less than 0.3% of the state population. Despite many hours of negotiations, the Republican caucus remains adamantly opposed to new taxes.” Earlier in the week, Gov. Dayton said a deal would have to…
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Aid to cities, school districts must continue, court rules.
State aid to cities and school districts must continue during a shutdown of Minnesota state government, according to a ruling Wednesday morning by Ramsey County District Court Judge Kathleen Gearin. School Impacts Today's ruling states that the Minnesota constitution requires a “general and uniform system of public schools” and that this provision makes funding education a critical core function of government. Consequently, it appears that education aid payments will continue to flow to school districts—those payments account for almost 80% of the Minnetonka School District's annual budget. At the same time, it appears that the ruling will accept most of Governor Mark Dayton's petition, which according to Scott Croonquist, executive …
Monday, June 27, 2011
Gov. Dayton: "We have failed to bridge the divide"
(Update 10:05 p.m.) Gov. Mark Dayton made comments to reporters and lawmakers Thursday night. He said that the lawmakers have "failed to bridge the divide." A shutdown of Minnesota's state government is no imminent. (Update 6:58 p.m) For the first time since Monday, leadership from both the GOP and DFL offered a glimmer of hope for the seemingly stagnant budget negotiations. Briefing the media assembled outside Gov. Mark Dayton’s office, House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) reiterated how close the two parties were to a deal, Session Daily reported. “We’ve always maintained that a government shutdown is not only unnecessary but just bad for Minnesotans,” Zellers said. “We’re here. We’re ready to go. It’s time for the governor to …
With a potential government shutdown looming, Patch wants to hear how you are being affected.
Will you or someone you know be without a job at this time tomorrow, should a state shutdown take effect? We want to hear from you. In our ongoing efforts to cover the issue, we want to talk with as many Minnetonka residents impacted by the looming shutdown as possible. Whether you're out of a job or just aggravated by how lost services will affect you, let your voice be heard. Do you work at a state DMV office? Are you a Department of Natural Resources employee? Just hate the fact that MnPASS lanes won't be working unless the budget impasse is resolved? Then take a few seconds to leave a comment below or send an email and let us know how you're feeling.
K larson
11:09 am on Friday, July 8, 2011
i am a licensed daycare as of today july 8th i have lost $660 since the shut down due to assistance families not being here, if this continues any longer i will be forced to skip house payments & pay all my bills late. every day the shut down continues i am out $110.00 plus dollars a day. THIS NEEDS TO END NOW OR I WILL BE APPLYING FOR WELFARE BENIFITS ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS more ›