But they have concerns on how actions may impact next year’s budget

Borderland’s state representatives say that northern Minnesota fared well with action at the Minnesota Legislature this year.
However, both Sen. Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids, and Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam, agree that this year brought some benefit for northern Minnesota, but worry about money.
“There’s a lot of one-time money and we used up the reserves,” said Saxhaug Tuesday as he traveled home from the St. Capitol. “Before we talk the good, we pushed (the problem) to next year. Next year we’ll be in some real problems in terms of money.”
Anzelc joked that he needs a haircut, some deodorant, and to eat with a fork and knife and spoon, rather than sandwiches.
“The good news is I caught two walleye last night,” he said Tuesday, after arriving at his home at 5 a.m. Monday morning.
When asked about the concerns about money that are expected to be discussed at next year’s session, he joked: “It all looks pretty good right now. I’d like to take a week before I feel challenged again.”
Turning serious, Anzelc agreed that it would be foolish not to believe that next year the state deficit is going to be back and could probably be larger.
“A lot of good things happened, but the fiscal health of the state is not where I’d like it to be,” Saxhaug said, adding that more must be invested in education, which he calls the “biggest factor in the continued economic vitality of Minnesota.”
Saxhaug said the state needs to generate more revenue. “But how, how much, from whom?” he said. “I’m not ready with any solutions yet.
“We just can’t continue cutting the heart out of programs for the less fortunate and for kids and vulnerable adults,” he said. “If there is a black cloud over this session, that would be it.”
He noted that 30 cents of every dollar the state takes in goes out in programs for children, the poor and people with disabilities, while 70 percent of the cuts this session came from that 30 percent of spending.
Both legislators are expected to discuss the session with the Koochiching County Board and International Falls City Council in June.
Meanwhile, Saxhaug and Anzelc said they were pleased that education and nursing home needs got a little relief with additional money.
Both said adoption of a transportation bill early on in the session will benefit the entire state, including Borderland. Each pointed to a provision in the bill that increases weight limits for trucks carrying finished products, which they say will benefit area loggers. In addition, they each noted that Highway 11 west of International Falls will see improvements intended to make the road safer.
A change in wetlands law will “give us a little break,” said Saxhaug, referring to counties that have retained more than 80 percent of their original wetlands.
Anzelc explained that the new law allows wetland credits to be purchased within a watershed. “so we don’t have to spend a fortune on buying credits from southern Minnesota.” While both said the law is not a cure all, Anzelc said state agencies involved in regulating wetlands are beginning to understand that the northern counties are different than the other counties.
Both noted that local government funding was increased, with International Falls getting in 2009 about $500,000 more than in 2008.
Anzelc said he believed a cap on levy limits was part of the deal made for the increased LGA.