Senator Heather Gustafson Touts $300 Million of Public Safety Funding in Tax Bill

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Senate passed a major tax bill Sunday afternoon which included a provision authored by Senator Heather Gustafson allocating $300 Million in public safety funding for counties and local governments. 

“$300 million distributed to every Minnesota city, county, and tribal nation for public safety resources — that’s what we’re delivering to our communities in this bill,” said Senator Gutsfason. “Police departments, fire departments, county sheriffs, mental health crisis response personnel, EMTs, and other brave public servants will get much-needed funding to keep our communities safe. Local governments will have latitude to decide where the money is spent, too, giving each community flexibility to address their own specific needs. I’ve been working on this funding for months, and I’m thrilled to see it pass.”

Senator Gustafson said that local governments in her Northeast Metro-based district (SD 36) will receive $3.7 Million in funding:

  • Birchwood — $37,809
  • Centerville — $171,190
  • Circle Pines — $217,664
  • Gem Lake — $23,368
  • Lino Lakes — $929,294
  • North Oaks — $232,192
  • Vadnais Heights — $572,385
  • White Bear Lake — $1,096,939
  • White Bear Township — $480,707

Anoka, Ramsey, and Washington — the three counties included in Senator Gustafson’s district — will receive over $4.1 Million, $6 Million, and $3.3 Million respectively in public safety aid.

Senator Gustafson noted that the tax bill also includes increased levels of county program aid and local government aid that will provide additional support to local governments across the state and reduce property tax burdens for hard-working Minnesotans.

Watch Senator Gustafson’s speech about the tax bill on YouTube.

Photo courtesy of Senate Media. Description: Senator Heather Gustafson (DFL–Vadnais Heights, center) speaks with Senate Tax Chair Ann Rest (DFL–New Hope, left), with whom she worked closely in crafting the legislation delivering hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for public safety efforts.

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Senator Heather Gustafson
Senator Heather Gustafson represents Senate District 36 which includes Centerville, Circle Pines, Lino Lakes, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, and White Bear Lake. She is vice chair of the Education Finance Committee, and serves on the Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee and the Jobs and Economic Development Committee.

Learn more about Sen. Gustafson.
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