Local reps

expect

budget,

bonding to

lead session

Finstad,

Frederickson

meet with

county officials

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Local legislators say they expect the bonding bill and an anticipated $700 million budget shortfall to dominate issues in the State Legislature in 2005.

Those two things will probably lead other issues like a new methamphetamine law, a gas tax increase and new stadiums for sports teams, said Sen. Dennis Frederickson (R- New Ulm) ‚ and Rep. Brad Finstad R - New Ulm) on Tuesday.

Frederickson and Finstad met with Brown County officials in a question-and-answer session among the legislators, county commissioners and county department heads.

Both legislators indicated that they expect talk about the state's budget shortfall to take center stage early in the session with the leftover bonding bill following close behind. The outcome could largely depend upon the new state budget forecast due in February.

Passing the methamphetamine bill proposed by Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) will also be a very high priority, according to Frederickson.

The senator also said discussion about the bonding bill could bring up the issue of whether or not the state should fund a new stadium for the University of Minnesota Gophers, the Twins or the Vikings.

Both legislators said they think that cooperation between Republicans and Democrats and rural and metro lawmakers is important if the Legislature is going to deal with the budget and the bonding bill.

"I expect the tone will be much more cordial and cooperative at the beginning, but as we get closer to May, it'll get more heated," Frederickson said, explaining later that debates on spending and taxes have divided the party caucuses. "I expect that we will pass the bonding bill."

Frederickson and Finstad heard several ideas and opinions from the Brown County officials they met with on Tuesday.

The proposed gas tax increase drew attention. Finstad said briefly that Pawlenty indicated he will support an amendment that raises that tax and also that he's confident the increase will pass the House, where the Republican Party still holds a slim majority. But that increase could still take a back seat to the budget, he said.

"Our ranking priorities are tackling the deficit," Finstad said. "The ways to address it are up in the air but the February forecast will give us a roadmap. We're just compiling ideas right now."

While human services funding and property tax aids likely won't be touched, both legislators said "everything is on the table" when it comes to budget deficit solutions although cutting LGA and human services funding will be very difficult. Tackling health and human services growth and funding could also prove difficult and will require some creativity, said Finstad.

County Board Chairman Donald Wellner said he is concerned about a proposal to change the feedlot permitting process.

Neither Frederickson nor Finstad said that they favor shifting that control away from counties towards the state. Frederickson said he's heard ideas from two camps -- one that wants information and another that simply wants to shift control.

Brown County Family Services Director Tom Henderson brought up Rosen's methamphetamine bill, which could establish standard practices for meth lab cleanup if it's passed. Henderson said meth presents a constant battle for local officials. Two other county officials -- Public Health Director Anita Hoffmann and Probation Director Les Schultz -- also urged for the bill's return.

Frederickson said Rosen's bill should be a "huge priority" during the upcoming session and agreed that the problem is out of control. He said the Senate will address the issue, but was unsure of any outcome.

The legislators said they both support the gas tax increase. Frederickson told county highway engineer Wayne Stevens that he also supports bridge bonds but doesn't support using general obligation bonds for roads and bridges because they "mask the true cost of owning a vehicle. Frederickson and Finstad said they both support proposals that will smooth out transportation funding over a span of several years instead of granting it year-by-year.

Any money the state spends on a new stadium will likely go to the Gophers and then the Twins and then the Vikings, Frederickson said in response to a question from Courtland Mayor Bob Schabert. The senator noted that while the pro teams probably won't get any money from the state's general fund, a partnership between the teams and businesses that surround the stadiums could pay for such venues. He noted that the Legislature passed a proposal for a new Twins stadium that was defeated in a city referendum in St. Paul. Finstad said the House probably won't deal with the issue until after it tackles the bonding bill.

Commissioner Charles Guggisberg asked both legislators for their stances on light rail transit. Both said they support the idea. Finstad questioned the path, noting that most of the traffic comes from the west metro area instead of downtown Minneapolis.

The 2005 session will begin with the swearing-in of the newly re-elected Finstad along with other legislators on Jan. 4.

In other news, the Brown County board:

* Approved four contracts for Family Services for 2005; Minnesota Valley Action Council, $184,009; Lutheran Social Services ($47,520 for guardianship/conservatorship and $2,000 for its consumer credit counseling program); Greater Minnesota Family Services, $63,709.