Political Party

Olmsted commissioners talk 'green pipes' and inmates

Olmsted County Commissioner met with area lawmakers this morning at the Capitol for an update on some of the county's legislative priorities.

One key area of concern is the county's quest to get $6 million for a steam line project from the Olmsted County Waste-to-Energy plant to Rochester Community and Technical College. Dubbed the "Green Pipes" project, the proposal would get $5 million from the state in the Senate bonding bill. But no such luck in the smaller House bonding bill — the Green Pipes project was left out.

So as a House and Senate conference committee meets to hash out differences, county officials were keen to learn whether the Green Pipes project would make the cut.

Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester, who serves on the conference committee, said she is optimistic the project will get bonding money.

"The odds are good," Lynch told commissioners.

Meanwhile, county officials also voiced concern that a deal to have the state take back responsibility for housing short-term offenders may not happen. That would come after Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty voiced support for the state taking back these offenders to help cash-strapped counties faced with housing these offenders.

County administrator Dick Devlin told lawmakers that the Olmsted County jail was housing more than 180 offenders this weekend and capacity is 200 to 210. If the state fails to take back responsibility for housing short-term offenders, it means the county may have to start paying to house inmates elsewhere or consider building a new jail.

Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, said it is unclear what is going to happen with this issue. But if the legislature balks at the $8 million price tag for the state, then she said she will try and pitch a compromise floated by local officials. That plan would allow certain well-behaved inmates the chance to get out of prison early and counties would be responsible for probation of these inmates. In exchange, the state would take back responsibility for housing short-term offenders.

A reprieve from budget cuts — for now

Gov. Tim Pawlenty unveiled his revised budget recommendations this afternoon. Thanks to a $2.6 billion infusion of federal stimulus dollars, K-12 education would get an extra $28 million funding boost on top of the governor's previously proposed increases over the next two-year budget cycle. Colleges and universities would also be spared from 8.2 percent in cuts.

Pawlenty's budget would restore $10 million out of $25 million of proposed cuts for the court system. The governor is also proposing that the state take back responsibility for housing short-term offenders, easing the burden on counties.

But there are plenty of cuts in the future. Beginning January 2011, the governor would move ahead with his proposed health care cuts. Democrats say that would mean 113,000 people would lose state health insurance. Over the next four-year budget cycle, Democrats charge the governor's budget would amount to a 35 percent cut in health care — including a substantial cuts to state hospital payments.

In addition, higher education would take an 11 percent funding hit in those later years. State aid to cities and counties would be frozen in the 2012-2013 budget at the level of cuts the governor is proposing over the next two years. Democrats say that amounts to a 23 percent cut in aid over the four-year budget.

Minn Courts 'stretched to the breaking point'

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson will make the case for protecting the state's judicial system from more budget cuts at a news conference slated for 1:30 p.m.at the State Capitol. Magnuson will be joined by representatives of the Coalition to Preserve Minnesota's Justice System.

In a news release, Magnuson is quoting as saying, "Minnesota's justice system is stretched to the breaking point."

The coalition says that a suggested 10 percent budget reduction for the court system over the next two years would have dire consequences. It states that several less-serious cases like shoplifting, trespass and traffic violations may not be able to be heard over the next two years if the cuts go through.