Dedicated funding: Nothing comes easily, it seems

Ideas are being floated to break a logjam that threatens establishment of a legislative-citizens council to oversee habitat money from a proposed constitutional amendment.

Supporters of the legislative-citizens council idea say it is necessary to ensure that about $91 million in dedicated funds for fish and wildlife habitat is spent wisely.

The constitutional amendment establishing the funds, should it pass in November, would increase the sales tax 3/8 of 1 percent, raising about $270 million a year. Two-thirds of the money would be set aside for fish and wildlife habitat and clean water, with the remainder split among parks and trails and cultural heritage.

Proponents of dedicated funding pushed the idea for nine years in the Legislature before it received approval early this session. More than 50 percent of people voting statewide this fall must approve the proposal for it to pass.

Virtually all Minnesota hunting, angling and wildlife groups back a bill in the Senate this session sponsored by Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, that would establish a council made up of citizens and legislators. The panel would recommend to the Legislature how the $91 million in fish and wildlife habitat money would be spent.

But a companion bill in the House sponsored by Rep. Frank Moe, DFL-Bemidji, won't get a hearing in that chamber this session, Moe said Thursday.

The reason, Moe said, is that some House leaders don't believe citizens should have a say in the expenditures, a role they reserve for elected officials.

Backers of the council idea counter that the environmental trust fund supported by the state lottery has been raided by legislators over the years, and assurances in the form of a citizen oversight committee are needed for passage of dedicated funding this fall.

Additionally, voter surveys indicate Minnesotans trust citizens to oversee conservation funds more than legislators.

"Dedicated funding is important,'' said SportsmenFor Change.org executive director Garry Leaf. "But just as important is dedicated spending.''

The best hope for Moe's citizens-council bill rests, ironically, in the Senate.

"If Sen. Chaudhary's bill passes in the Senate, perhaps in an omnibus bill, we might get to consider it in a conference committee,'' Moe said.

But there might be another way to establish a citizens council: Hunting, angling and wildlife groups could form their own.

Granted, they wouldn't have spending authority over the $91 million. But as members of a citizens-legislative commission, they wouldn't have that authority, either. All fund expenditures -- whether for fish, wildlife, parks, trails or the arts -- ultimately rest with the Legislature.

So being part of a citizens-legislative committee might not be so much different than being part of an all-citizens committee.

But what impact could a citizens committee have on the process if it operated outside of legislative involvement?

Perhaps quite a bit. It might work like this:

The committee would comprise members of important fish and wildlife groups, as well as at-large members representing a cross-section of the state. Committee members would develop (or adopt) a long-range conservation plan, prioritize needs and develop spending proposals -- some general, some specific -- for the $91 million.

Then they would lay their work at the feet of legislators, who might accept the citizens plan, modify it or reject it.

Whatever the case, political ramifications, and perhaps consequences, would follow, as the groups exerted their considerable influence on the spending and conservation process.

The Legislature might even be convinced this session to help establish such a citizens-only commission. A structure and appointment process could be part of this, perhaps even formal acknowledgement that the panel's purpose is to recommend to the Legislature how the new fish and wildlife money should be spent.

Such a setup might not please everyone. But it's better than the stalemate we have now.

Dennis Anderson • danderson@startribune.com