As the Special Session of the Minnesota Legislature came to a close in the early morning hours of July 20, 2011, our eyes and ears were already to the ground looking for the impact of the budget agreement on Minnesota’s historic resources. I’ve just had the opportunity to review the 2011 Special Session budget bills posted online with a keen eye toward capital and tax expenditures impacting preservation.
1) Did anything happen to the new state historic preservation tax credit?
As I can find, no. Neither the Jobs or Tax bills include a reverter impacting Minnesota Session Laws 2010, Chapter 216, Sections 11 and 17–otherwise known as the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Tax Credit (SHTC). This is a strong show of support for the job creation tool that is the SHTC. With 19 projects in the pipeline representing over $300 million in investment, the SHTC has already catalyzed construction jobs.
2) What about the Legacy Grants? Were funds appropriated to the Minnesota Historical Society for the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund?
Yes, a total of $24.1 million over the Biennium was appropriated for the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Legacy Amendment grants administered by MHS. The Legislature has appropriated $12.05 million per year toward the following five program grant areas:
- $5.25 million per year toward statewide Historical and Cultural Grants;
- $4.8 million per year toward programs conducted by MHS;
- $1.5 million per year forstatewide history partnership projects;
- $250,000 per year toward the statewide survey of historical and archaeological sites;
- $250,000 per year for the Digital History Library.
The $24.1 million appropriation represents a $2.1 million increase in funding, which is great news for the 343 museums, agencies, and sites that have already utilized the funding from 2009-2011. Increases were given to the Historic and Cultural Grants category ($3.75 million over the Biennium) and MHS programs ($1.85 million) areas. Funding levels remain consistent for the statewide survey and Digital History Library. The biggest hit was taken by the history partnerships category (which includes PAM’s Minnesota Main Street Program) with a Biennial cut of $1 million from the 2009-2011 level. The $24.1 million is also $12.45 million less than requested by the Minnesota History Coalition in its February request to the appropriations committees.
3) Any other areas to note in the Legislative budget agreement?
Yes, the Bonding Bill. The Bonding Bill includes several appropriations for historic resources. The Capitol Building will receive $4 million over the Biennium toward its continued maintenance and rehabilitation. The Minnesota Historical Society is receiving $1.9 million toward asset preservation. Minnesota’s African American Museum and Cultural Center is receiving $1 million toward its rehabilitation of the historic Amos Coe House in Minneapolis. Section 43 of the Bonding Bill also permits State funds appropriated in 2010 to be used for all work necessary to rehabilitate the buildings and sites at the Fort Snelling Upper Post for occupancy.
We can consider these appropriations an indication of the support for the work being done by the preservation community to create jobs, stimulate local economic development, and preserve places important in our communities.
Allow me to close by welcoming back the State employees who work tirelessly to provide the information and resources we all use to protect our community’s significant places and those that have historic places within their own stewardship duties. To our friends at the Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota DNR, MnDOT, MN DEED, and the many other colleagues at the State Capitol–you’ve been missed.
Sincerely,
Bonnie McDonald
Executive Director
Be sure to check out Minnesota History: Building A Legacy, Minnesota Historical Society’s 2011 report on the Legacy Funding.
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