LETTER: Weighing funding for the Luce Line Trail

From Rep. Ron Shimanski
District 18A, R-Silver Lake

Here’s the million-dollar question: How do we make wise use of each taxpayer dollar during these tough economic times?

Minnesota faced a historic budget deficit last spring and another shortfall is looming; we will know more when the next budget forecast is issued later this month. Yet we cannot neglect our public infrastructure and other top priorities during this recession.

The Legislature will be crafting a bonding bill in the upcoming session, a process where projects are funded by the state’s version of a credit card. Some people contend we cannot afford to pass a bonding bill at all this session, but a whole different set of problems if we fail to maintain our critical infrastructure.

Bonding should be used to support necessities, but often niceties find their way into the mix. Sometimes drawing a distinction between the two is difficult. For example, valid arguments can be made on each side of the fence regarding upgrading the Luce Line Trail. Senate and House capital investment committees recently visited our area to hear proposals for paving for the Luce Line. Local officials made a strong plea for support.

I will author House legislation to fund this project, but I take pride in being a responsible steward of your tax dollars and my voting record is proof of this. That is why I am seeking your feedback.

Here is what we need to decide:

Would paving the Luce Line Trail from Winsted to Cedar Mills strengthen the local economy and provide enough intangible quality-of-life benefits to warrant this $2.5 million expenditure? Or, would it be disingenuous to spend millions on a trail and then, in the next breath, tell our military veterans, school children and flood victims that we lack the funds to provide sufficient support? Are there other creative ways of paying for this project that do not involve the state’s credit card? Or, would we be better off waiting until our economy is on steadier ground?

Bear in mind that, in addition to a $2.5 million request to pave the Luce Line, we can expect bonding proposals to total billions of dollars. It is likely that only a fraction of these projects will be funded, largely because our state already has reached its recommended threshold or debt capacity.

Bonding proposals to support infrastructure projects — like water and sewer upgrades for communities — that will put people to work will receive priority in the upcoming session. The desired effect is to fund projects that can get underway immediately, as opposed to incurring the lag time which routinely delays start dates by a year or more. I continue to stress the 2010 legislative session should be all about creating jobs in Minnesota and we should look for ways the bonding bill can provide expedient help in that regard.

Perhaps paving the Luce Line would be one of those job-creating projects. I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter as we inch closer to reconvening in St. Paul this February.

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Rep. Shimanski is serving his second term in the Minnesota House. He can be reached at the Capitol by calling (651) 296-1534. He is also available by e-mail at rep.ron.shimanski@house.mn. His office is at 227 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.