West Side Draws Legislative Scrutiny: What It Means for -controlled hands $8 billion transportation to Walz for signature — María Isa Pérez-Vega Constituent Briefing

Residents of West Side may want to follow a Minnesota legislative proposal concerning -controlled hands $8 billion transportation to walz for signature.

HF2887 includes about $1.4 billion in new transportation-related taxes and fees for businesses and consumers.

On Sunday, the DFL-controlled House and Senate voted along party lines to pass the conference committee report for HF2887.

That omnibus transportation finance bill includes nearly $1 billion in new taxes and fees dedicated to transit and roads that will come from three sources: a new metropolitan area sales tax increase of 0.75 percent, a 50-cent fee for all deliveries of retail goods over $100 and a gas tax increase indexed to inflation.

An increase in fees for automobile registrations and a sales tax increase for purchase of automobiles will also add more than $340 million in new revenues for transportation expenditures over the next two years.

While DFL leaders touted the $1.4 billion in new taxes and fees included in HF2887 as a “historic, generational investment in transportation,” Republicans blasted the legislation by saying its funding of transit projects like a new commuter train from the Twin Cities to Duluth is “absolutely out of touch” with Minnesotans who haven’t asked for a tax hike amidst a $17.5 billion surplus.

The legislation will dedicate $7.85 billion to the Minnesota Department of Transportation over the next two years.

It also includes nearly $580 million for the state Department of Public Safety.

As the measure advances, residents of West Side can follow amendments and contact María Isa Pérez-Vega regarding the final language.

Article Source: Alpha News: “DFL-controlled legislature hands $8 billion transportation bill to Walz for signature”