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Transit advocates need to stand up for dedicated funds - MVST referendum
You can take action on this alert by reading the information below and following the
directions at the bottom.
Urge your legislators to pass language to ensure that the MVST amendment preserves flexibility for future transit funding.
Last session the Legislature passed a proposed constitutional amendment asking voters if 100% of the revenue from the existing sales tax on new and used motor vehicles should be used for transportation. Currently, about half of this revenue is used for highways and transit.
The amendment asks voters if at least 40% of the revenue should be used for transit. Now some legislators want to limit transit funding to no more than 40%. We believe that future legislatures should have the ability to decide if that is the right amount of funding as circumstances change.
The question that would appear on the ballot does need some clarification and legislation has been drafted to make the language clearer, while retaining flexibility in the proposed constitutional language. This language is contained in the House and Senate Omnibus Transportation bills.
We need transit advocates to contact their legislators and let them know that dedicated funding for transit is critical. We need legislators to do their part to help with passage of this amendment in November.
Your message will be sent to each of the following targets:
Your State Representative
Your State Senator
A sample message appears below, which you may edit before sending.
Support the constitutional amendment to dedicate MVST to highways and transit
Dear Representative,
Minnesota has tremendous funding needs for both roads and transit. Many local roads and bridges are in poor condition and transit systems across Minnesota have been cut back substantially over the past five years. Without more stable funding for transit, people have few options for getting to work and accessing needed services.
We need to increase transportation funding to provide greater choices for people, while also reducing congestion. I support passage of the proposed constitutional amendment dedicating all of the proceeds from the sales tax on motor vehicles to transportation.
Some legislators want to try to change the amendment that was passed last year to put the 60/40 highway/transit split into the constitution. However, the Attorney General's Office has issued an opinion saying that the Legislature does not have the authority to change the amendment itself, but can change the question that would appear on the ballot.
The legislature can help secure passage of this amendment by helping voters understand that the amendment will not increase the rate of the sales tax on motor vehicles, but will simply ensure that all MVST revenues are used to improve highways and transit systems throughout the state.
I urge you to support language contained in the House and Senate Omnibus Transportation Funding bills that would clarify the question that would appear on the ballot and set the 60/40 highway/transit split in state statute. A court battle over this issue will make it harder to convince voters to support this amendment in November.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Your name and address here
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This Action Alert Campaign is Closed.
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