Cutting up the pie is spurring discussion

A public dialogue can be heard at the Capitol over the way Parks and Trails Legacy Funds are divided among Minnesota’s three park systems.

The debate began after Gov. Mark Dayton released his budget proposal which called for the state park and trail system to receive 42 percent of the funds, for the metropolitan regional parks and trails system to receive 42 percent and for the Greater Minnesota regional parks system to receive up to 16 percent through the Parks & Trails Legacy Grant Program.

Dayton’s Parks and Trails Legacy Fund budget closely resembles the allocation formula of his predecessor, Tim Pawlenty. Under Pawlenty, the two largest systems received 43 percent each and the Greater Minnesota regional system was able to apply for up to 13 percent through the Legacy Grant Program, which was also open to metropolitan regional parks. The final one percent went to specific programs.

The group expressing dissatisfaction with the governor’s budget is the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Coalition. That group believes the budget proposed by the governor does not provide enough of the funds to Greater Minnesota.

They also are requesting that all of the funds in the Legacy Grant Program be awarded to grant applications from Greater Minnesota. They argue that metro regional parks should not be able to compete for the grants because they already receive a dedicated share of the funds.

While Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota developed Legacy Fund principles in 2009 which called for equity and balance between the needs and priorities of the three park and trail systems, it is not yet clear which criteria should be used.

Parks & Trails Council is hoping for a DNR Commissioner appointment to the Park and Trail Legacy Fund Advisory Committee, to be formed soon, in order to participate in that important discussion. The committee’s charge will be to coordinate work between the three systems over the final 23 years of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment’s life.

Both the Minnesota House and Senate will make their Legacy Fund recommendations after they make their general fund recommendations.