Latest news with #GovTimWalz
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota policy change takes effect as many state employees begin working in-office 50% of the time
A work policy requiring Minnesota state employees to be in the office for 50% of their workdays is now in effect, though some agencies are getting an extension to comply. The change went into effect on June 1, according to Julie Nelson, communications director with the Minnesota Department of Administration. Twelve agencies have been given extensions that range from mid-June to Sept. 2 due to space limitations or equipment needs, Nelson said. The Minnesota Department of Health's facility is undergoing "significant construction" and will adapt to the policy based on the construction schedule. There is an exemption for employees who live 75 miles or more away from their workplace. Gov. Tim Walz made the policy change in March, saying it balances the flexibility of working remotely with the "workplace advantages of being in office." There are 40,000 government employees, and Walz said in March that 60% of them were already back in-person or have continued to be since the pandemic upended workplaces and daily life five years ago. Unions representing tens of thousands of state employees said the change was made without their input. The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5 said in March that they learned of the change when the rest of the public did. Megan Dayton, president of MAPE, said at that time the unions were considering a strike if there wasn't a reversal, but it wouldn't begin until June 30 — the date the current contract with the state expires.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pacelli among those institutions keeping an eye on potential state level cuts
May 30—Around a week ago Pacelli Catholic Schools recognized another successful class during its 2025 Commencement, graduating all 11 of its students. It's a trend that has continued over the years as the school has boasted a 98.6% 10-year graduation rate and even though class sizes range on the low end of students per class, it's a mark Pacelli has nonetheless become proud of. However, recent maneuvering within the Minnesota State Legislature have raised anxieties regarding non-public schools funding Pacelli receives from the State of Minnesota. "This has been huge in the private school world," said Pacelli Advancement Director and social Studies teacher Nick McGrath. State law allows reimbursement to schools regardless of whether or not they go to a public or private school. That reimbursement funding goes towards things like busing, however, in his most recent budget proposal, Gov. Tim Walz pinned the cutting of $109 million in funding for non-public school aid as well as funding for busing non-public school students. It's something those in the private school sector, including Pacelli, have been watching closely as the school could miss out on close to $1,100 per student. "It's just a really touchy subject if we lost our funding," McGrath said. There are plenty of misconceptions that float around in the orbit of private schools including things like its education for the upper class or in Pacelli's case, you have to be Catholic to attend — neither of which are true in its case. "There's a common saying that if you've seen one private school, you've seen one private school," McGrath said, adding that Pacelli's enrollment mirrors its much bigger neighbor across the street, Austin High School, in terms of demographics. "You don't have to jump through hoops," he said. "Seventy-five percent of the student body receives aid of some kind. We mirror the demographics of the public system." A large chunk of Pacelli's overall each year comes from fundraising, including its biggest fundraiser, the Pacelli Auction, which this year aimed for raising between $225,000 and $250,000 and uses the money for things like scholarships. The school was actually saved through a fundraiser in 1992 when the financial strain of keeping the school open very nearly closed the school permanently. This year, the auction raised a total net profit of $217,531.67. While the legislature failed to get a budget passed during the regular session, it is now facing a special session to get it completed. However, the proposal has since been indefinitely postponed. Lobbying groups for private schools have opposed the bill, with the Minnesota Association of Independent schools citing that it's contradictory to state intentions. "This legislation directly contradicts long-standing Minnesota policy that ensures equitable access to educational benefits for all students, including those attending nonpublic schools," the MAIS said in a letter to the Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee on March 30. However, educator unions have voiced support for the bill saying that money generated from the public should be used for public education. It's a source of frustration for private schools who say that education standards often cross over with those of public schools and in some cases, like Pacelli, the only difference tends to be that faith is a guiding principle. "We do not offer a cut-rate education," McGrath said. "You are not being served 80% coming Pacelli. What you are getting is a comprehensive education rooted in faith."
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota cannabis industry hopefuls, advocates rally outside governor's office in protest of proposed sales tax hike on sales
Cannabis industry hopefuls and advocates rallied at the capitol on Wednesday in protest of a proposed tax hike on retail sales before the legal market is even off the ground. The 2023 law greenlighting recreational marijuana implemented a gross receipts tax of 10% on sales at licensed businesses. DFL Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders announced a budget deal last week that increases the rate to 15%. That's on top of the state sales tax rate of 6.875% and any local sales taxes. And it applies to low-dose, THC edibles derived from hemp, too. The group of about two dozen people chanted "stop the tax, start the market" outside Gov. Tim Walz's office, as key lawmakers behind closed doors worked to finalize the remaining parts of the next two-year state budget that they didn't pass before Monday's end-of-session deadline. Leili Fatehi with cannabis consulting firm Blunt Strategies said high taxes means higher prices for consumers, which puts legal businesses at a disadvantage compared to the illicit market. "It feels like a real betrayal, both to the folks that have been very patiently waiting to enter the legal market, but also a really bad public policy decision," said Fatehi, noting the change would also eliminate revenue-sharing with local governments that will handle some of the enforcement of the law. The state's General Fund rakes in 80% of the revenues from cannabis and cities and counties get the remaining 20%. Fatehi and others hope lawmakers will reverse course before any legislation is final, but both the House and Senate negotiators included the increase in their tax packages they are refining this week before the official special session. Supporters of the move say the new rate brings Minnesota more in line with other legal cannabis states. "There are not across-the-board tax increases," said House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, during the budget deal announcement last week. "There will be a small increase on the tax on cannabis, that is almost right-sizing it. It was very low. We were one of the very low tax states on cannabis." Cannabis taxes vary from state to state, with rates from as low as 6% to as high as 37% in Washington, according to an analysis by the Tax Foundation. About half of those states have taxes higher than 10%. The proposal comes as the state is nearing market launch. June 5 is the date set for a lottery to choose who will receive one of the capped license types, like growers and retailers. Other types of businesses that don't fall under certain categories and received approval from the Office of Cannabis Management can move forward and prepare to begin operations, like securing a location cleared by local governments. Still, Fatehi—who worked closely on the 2023 legalization bill—believes there will be a months-long delay before businesses start opening. "I anticipate that we will see some state licensed retailers opening up in 2025," she said "It's likely going to be in the back half of the year." The first dispensary is set to open soon in Moorhead after the state entered into a compact with White Earth Nation allowing them to open eight dispensaries off of the reservation. Tribal nations have been able to sell legal cannabis on their land because of their sovereignty. Under the agreement, off-reservation sales will be subject to all of the taxes other businesses face, as well as state regulators' rules for safety.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
White Earth Nation gets approval to open cannabis shops off tribal land
Tribal nation gets green light to open cannabis dispensaries across Minnesota Tribal nation gets green light to open cannabis dispensaries across Minnesota Tribal nation gets green light to open cannabis dispensaries across Minnesota An agreement between the state of Minnesota and White Earth Nation gives the tribal nation the green light to open cannabis dispensaries across the state. On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz signed the first tribal-state compact authorized under Minnesota's 2023 cannabis law. According to Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the agreement allows the White Earth Nation to open up to eight dispensaries outside of Tribal lands. OCM says sales of cannabis products off tribal lands are subject to all state and local taxes. The 2023 law greenlit recreational marijuana with a gross receipts tax of 10% on sales at licensed businesses. A budget agreement announced May 15 would raise it to 15%. The approved tax hike would be in addition to the state sales tax rate of 6.975% and any local sales taxes. This applies to low-dose, THC edibles derived from hemp, too. White Earth Nation has plans for locations in Moorhead and St. Cloud. OCM says with the compact signed, tribal dispensaries can open their doors to the public.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislature wheezes toward the finish line with the hardest work still to be done
Dark clouds loom over the Minnesota Capitol on May 15, 2025. Photo by Michele Jokinen/House Public Information Services. The House and Senate were able to pass several non-controversial bills on the second-to-last day of the legislative session, but lawmakers continued negotiating behind closed doors on major budget bills to fund human services, education, transportation and more. Education alone comprises roughly 40% of the general fund budget. Democratic and Republican legislative leaders hope they can finish their work with a one-day special session before Memorial Day, but that depends on quickly hammering out the most contentious parts of a $66 billion to $67 billion two-year budget that their respective caucuses can support. That won't be easy, given the dynamics of a 67-67 House and 34-33 Democratic-Farmer-Labor majority in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said on TPT Almanac on Friday that this has been the most difficult session of the 18 she's been through in the Legislature. Still unresolved is whether the state will roll back access to subsidized health insurance for undocumented adults and cut funding to private schools, both of which have staunch advocates and opponents. Lawmakers must pass a budget by June 30, or the government shuts down. Only Gov. Tim Walz can call a special session, but only lawmakers can adjourn once they're in a special session. While lawmakers and staff scrambled behind the scenes Sunday afternoon, lobbyists turned the television outside the Senate chambers to the pro golf championship to pass the time until more bills came to the floor. The House and Senate both passed the judiciary policy and budget bill (HF2432), which in addition to funding law enforcement and the courts, approves closing the Stillwater correctional facility over four years. Walz and legislative leaders announced Thursday that they agreed to close the more than century-old prison, which came as a surprise to other lawmakers, who nevertheless have broadly supported the decision. Rep. Josiah Hill, DFL-Stillwater, said the prison looks worse than the one in 'The Shawshank Redemption.' He said it has to be closed, but in the least disruptive way for the prison's more than 550 full-time workers and 1,200 inmates. 'We need to make sure we get this process right,' Hill said on the House floor on Sunday. Union leaders representing correctional officers blasted the decision to close the facility, saying it was made without their input. The Senate also approved a House bill (HF1143) by a wide margin that cancels $77.2 million in funding for a passenger rail line between Minneapolis and Duluth to help school districts pay for unemployment benefits for bus drivers, paraprofessionals and other hourly school workers. The Northern Lights Express, a longtime dream of Duluth residents and transit enthusiasts, is dependent on winning federal grants to cover the majority of the cost. That funding seems unlikely to materialize under the Trump administration while it pursues drastic cuts that will further strain the state's tight budget. The bill didn't cancel all the funding for the rail project, and Sen. Jen McEwen, DFL-Duluth, said she's holding out hope that it will happen one day. 'Although we are making a substantial cancellation because of this austerity that is being imposed upon the people of Minnesota … the Northern Lights Express project is still alive,' McEwen said on the Senate floor. The bill, which passed the House on Friday and is expected to be signed by the governor, would give school districts $100 million for unemployment insurance for hourly school workers. Republicans have pushed to end the entitlement, which was passed in 2023 under Democratic control. School districts have complained the benefits make it harder to recruit staff to work part-time summer jobs, and that the mandate will take away critical resources for classrooms. The state has been funding the cost so far, having appropriated $135 million in 2023. There's about $33 million left in the account, only about half of what's expected to be needed this summer. The Senate also passed a bill (SF2884) with bipartisan support that increases pension benefits for public employees, including school teachers, firefighters and state patrol officers. If it becomes law, teachers would be eligible to retire at 60 years old with lower early retirement penalties if they have 30 years of service. State patrol retirees will receive a permanent 1.25% annual increase in their benefits to help keep up with the cost of inflation. The police and fire plan also gets a one-time 3% boost. The bill must still pass the House. The House and Senate have also passed a bill funding housing and homelessness prevention (SF2298) as well as agriculture, broadband and rural development (HF2446).
