Sign up for updates!

Friends and Neighbors-

It's been too long since my last email update. I've been hard at work at the Capitol, making sure all the bills I've been working on are heard in their appropriate committees and passed before Committee deadlines, the last of which came and went today. I will take some time to write about specific bills and initiatives in coming updates.

For now, I wanted to share with you some thoughts on the state budget deficit, especially as it relates to investing in Chisago County's schools.

As you know, Minnesota is facing a $935 million budget deficit due to our state's recent economic downturn. Last year, the Legislature completed our work on time and under budget, leaving approximately $350 million in cash reserves, in addition to the state's rainy day fund.

Closing the budget deficit will require using approximately half of our reserves on hand, and a series of targeted budget cuts. I am committed to balancing the budget responsibly, without raising general fund taxes to do so.

As the Legislature looks to make those targeted budget cuts, we need to look forward, to ensure that we are not cutting those investments with big pay-offs for the future. And we need to learn from the mistakes of similar tough budget times in the state's history.

In 2003, when the state faced a larger budget deficit, the Legislature made some fairly deep cuts to senior citizens' programs, to our vulnerable and disabled adults communities, and to our public schools. Fortunately, in 2007, we were able to restore nearly all of the cuts made five years ago. I am committed to seeing that, in fixing this year's budget, we don't lose the ground we gained last year.

Of particular concern to me are the deep cuts our local school districts are being forced to make, particularly the North Branch schools. For half a decade, North Branch has been last in the state in total spending per child. That means that the kids growing up in Edina, in Hibbing, or in Bemidji have more opportunities than students growing up in Chisago County.

I believe that every child in Minnesota deserves the same opportunities. That's why I authored the bipartisan School Funding Reform bill in 2007 that would have made our state's out-dated per pupil funding formula much fairer, and would have millions more in funding for Chisago County's schools. The bill was a casualty of the Governor's budget, but I will continue working to enact this much needed reform, including the ongoing bipartisan task force that should report to the Legislature before we adjourn in May.

Last year I was also proud to vote for the House Education Bill, one of the best education packages in recent history. The bill included a 3 percent formula increase in 2007 and another 3 percent increase in 2008-09. Along with funding all-day, everyday kindergarten, the bill would have filled the gap in school funding left by costly special education mandates. Unfortunately, after negotiations with the Governor and Senate, this bill was scaled down dramatically.

Still, our final education bill increased school funding by $800 million for Minnesota schools statewide, and finally restored Early Childhood Education funding to pre-2003 levels. The bill provided sorely needed resources for our struggling Minnesota classrooms.

But, as we know from reading the paper every week, the unfair school funding system and the tough economy means tough times for Chisago County schools. North Branch School District #138 alone is confronted with a $2.9 million budget deficit next year. After years of cuts, there is little left to cut. Class sizes will likely increase, and students will receive fewer opportunities today than we did a generation or two before them. They deserve better.

That's why I am supporting a measure (HF 2475) that would provide $49 million (51 dollars per student) in additional school funding statewide in 2009. Funding would come from an unused surplus leftover in the state's Q-Comp funding program.

This bill would help ease some of the pain at schools across Chisago County. In all, schools in our area would receive almost $1 million in additional school funding in 2009 if this plan becomes law. Specifically, HF2475 would provide:

• $226,654 for North Branch (District #138);
• $55,205 for Rush City (District #139);
• $430,008 for Forest Lake (District #831); and
• $207,802 for Chisago Lakes Area (District #2144).

The situation our schools are facing is a long-term problem that needs a solid, long-term solution. And while this year's proposal is a short-term fix, it is a necessary step to set the stage for a comprehensive education reform measure in the coming 2009 Legislative Session.

As usual, your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome.

I hope you and your family have a great weekend! The sap is running, and the sun is shining (for now)...

All my best, Jeremy

--------

Jeremy Kalin
State Representative - 17B
sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/17b

Contact me at the Capitol:
Rep.Jeremy.Kalin@House.mn
651.296.5377
579 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
St. Paul MN 55155

Contact me at home:
11629 Loftman Trail
North Branch, MN 55056
651-257-9861
Jeremy@Kalin.com