LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BRIEFS

Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, and Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, said the House omnibus tax bill that passed last week will bring significant and permanent property tax relief to Minnesotans.

Combined with the $125 million in school levy reductions and aid in the House education bill, Minnesotans will receive more than $544 million in permanent property tax relief they said in separate news releases.

The bill passed in the House on Friday and is currently being considered in a conference committee.

Ward said a proposal he authored will grant a 50 percent tax exemption for construction materials for the Baxter water treatment facility and the Brainerd/Baxter wastewater facility.

Panel completes work on public safety bill

Senate and House negotiators agreed this week on a $2 billion Public Safety and Judiciary Omnibus budget bill, Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji, said.

Olson, who served on the conference committee, said the bill provides the budget for many public safety agencies including the Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division and the state's court system.

A spokesperson in Olson's office said the measure was expected to be considered on the Senate floor on Wednesday.