Disaster money: where it would be spent

By Don Davis
Forum Communications
ST. PAUL — Here is how nearly $168 million in disaster-relief funding and other reallocated funds would be spent under a bill Minnesota legislators will debate Friday:
-- $25 million, government infrastructure repair to match federal funds.
-- $500,000, debris removal and disposal.
-- $79 million, repair state and local roads and bridges.
-- $15 million, economic development grants.
-- $6 million, public facilities grants.
-- $12.7 million, housing repair loans and temporary housing.
-- $250,000, historic preservation.
-- $6.9 million, repair Department of Natural Resources flood damage.
-- $10 million, buy or relocate buildings damaged or threatened by flood.
-- $2 million, debris removal from public waters.
-- $12.5 million, conservation, water quality and erosion work.
-- $600,000, agriculture needs.
-- $761,000, compensate schools that lose students due to floods and to repair facilities.
-- $565,000, Health Department costs.
-- $100,000, fix buildings involved in petroleum tank releases.
-- $101,000, cost to sell bonds.
-- $5.8 million, wind damage in seven northern Minnesota counties.
-- $994,000, reforestation after wind damage.
-- $1 million, compensate for lost timber sales revenue.
Funds would come from a combination of the state selling bonds and money already in state accounts.
Other provisions in the bill:
-- Extend Lake Superior Zoo deadline to June 30, 2015, to spend bond funds approved in previous years.
-- Provide aid to cities that lose property taxes due to floods.
-- Give some property owners affected by floods longer to pay property taxes.
-- Require much of the loan repayment money to be put into accounts to be used in future disasters.