minnetonka - search results

The Southwest Light Rail line (SWLRT) from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie was scheduled to start construction in 2014. When the Hennepin County Railway Authority approved the alignment in 2009 the project was projected to cost taxpayers $1.2 billion. Construction costs for the 16-mile line went from $1.25 billion in 2013, to $1.65 billion in 2014, to an estimated $2 billion.

Governor Mark Dayton failed in his push for $342 million to establish free PreK for all Minnesota 4-year olds, although he succeeded in negotiating for a total of $104 million to expand his tax-funded PreK scholarship program. Dayton and Democrats achieved another state education victory by establishing a new $8.5 million program called the "MnScu College Occupational Scholarship" which will pay for tuition and fees for 1,600 recent Minnesota high school graduates or GED recipients.

In the final budget negotiations, it's likely that a major expansion of taxpayer-funded conservation easements will occur with support from House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown...

As the final weeks of the legislative session unfold, look for bits of bacon in the final budget negotiations. Pork projects are ones that...

The Minnesota Senate voted yesterday to pass their transportation bill which mirrors Governor Dayton's plan to spend $11 Billion on roads, bridges, and public transportation. The 6.5% wholesale gas tax has been receiving the bulk of attention, which would put Minnesota in the top five in the nation for fuel taxes.

A bill at the Capitol would pump $20 Million into the Snowbate program which currently provides tax rebates for production companies to make movies and commercials in Minnesota.

Democrats around the state continue to promote a gas tax hike to pay for their transportation proposals while Republicans are holding the line on the plan to put Minnesota in the nation's Top 5 for gas taxes.

            Senator Roger Reinert, D-Duluth and Senator Jeremy Miller, R-Winona started the Purple Caucus back in 2013 when Democrats controlled the House and the Senate....