Greater MN wants more money to remove lead pipes

Minnesota’s legislative session begins in two weeks, and lawmakers said they will be busy dealing with the issue After fraud scandals in the country and The ongoing surge in immigration enforcement In Minneapolis.

At the same time, a coalition of more than 100 cities in the rest of the state hopes it can make progress on its own legislative agenda, which includes funding various grant programs, passing local tax reform and blocking legislation that it said would wrest control of zoning away from local governments.

Bradley Peterson, a lobbyist and executive director of the Alliance of Greater Minnesota Cities, said he’s concerned the situation in the Twin Cities could overshadow the agenda.

“I think all the discussions about ICE and fraud will probably suck a lot of energy out of the room,” he said.

However, Peterson said his organization will try to stay focused on its priorities, such as funding the replacement of service lead lines, which are the pipes that connect water mains to indoor plumbing. The state’s goal is to identify and replace all products made with lead By 2033.

The coalition asks the Legislative Council to fund the program with $250 million this year. It earned $240 million in 2023.

“It would be, over time, about a billion dollars to replace all the main service lines in the state,” Peterson said.

The coalition will also lobby for $200 million to improve water infrastructure and to keep the current allocation of local government aid funds intact. That’s money local governments receive from the state — about $644 million annually since 2024.

The coalition lobbied against a bill last year that would have reduced that number by $20 million. Did not pass.

While Minnesota is currently experiencing a budget surplus, the state is projecting a deficit in fiscal year 2028-2029. According to the November report. Peterson doesn’t want Greater Minnesota to get on the short end of a tougher budget.

“The state’s financial situation has changed, so any request for dollars will be difficult,” he said. “But specifically regarding lead service lines, we think that if the Legislature is going to spend money on anything, it should be something like this.”

The group also plans to lobby against what it calls “one-size-fits-all zoning and land use mandates.”

Minnesota groups, such as the Yes Homes Coalition, support state laws that would ease local building restrictions that they say make building homes more difficult — and raise housing prices — as some groups do. Parking, aesthetic and zoning requirements.

Peterson said the coalition opposes implementing these reforms statewide.

“These local officials are very protective of their powers in terms of local control and local decision-making,” he said.

Peterson noted that many cities are enacting proposals that represent variations on what emerges in the Legislature.

“But they are doing so in dialogue with their residents, and with other stakeholders in the community without legislative guidance, and we believe this is what is best for everyone,” he added.

The coalition will also seek to reform local sales tax policy. City governments need approval from the legislature to levy a local tax. Stop these requests It ended last year Without passing a new political language.

Alliance of Greater Minnesota Cities Host a press conference Thursday to discuss his priorities. Complete list It can be found online.