ST. PAUL -- Minnesota policymakers have little loose change rattling around in their pockets this year, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty wants a large part of what is there go to housing more sex offenders and other dangerous people.
More aggressive handling of sex offenders since Pequot Lakes native Dru Sjodin was kidnapped from a Grand Forks, N.D., mall in November 2003 has meant more arrests and more people going to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. Sjodin's body was found in April 2004, and a Crookston man who had been imprisoned on sex offender charges, Alfonzo Rodriguez Jr., awaits trial in her death.
"We have to address the needs," Pawlenty said Tuesday in announcing changes he proposes in the state budget. "It is not optional."
The Republican governor would spend $26 million in the next two years adding 100 beds and accompanying staff to the sex offender program at the Moose Lake prison while new facilities are being built next door at the state hospital. Another $200,000 would be spent on establishing an Internet site on which to post information about sex offenders who are not complying with state registration laws.
Pawlenty's budget proposals include $49 million in tax cuts, $102 million to address what he called "emergency needs" (including the sex offender provisions) and adding $159 million to make the state's budget reserves $812 million.
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Legislators approved a $31 billion, two-year budget last year and during this year's legislative session they will make relatively minor adjustments.
Money Pawlenty wants to use comes from a $317 million tax relief account and $88 million in additional revenue that was not expected last year.
Among Pawlenty's proposals is one that would spend $100,000 to establish a training course for anyone who gets an alcohol sales permit. The course, which Pawlenty wants to be mandatory for new liquor license holders, is a response to problems with binge drinking by youths, he said.
In recent years, several Minnesotans, mostly of college age, have disappeared and later were found dead after heavy drinking.
Pawlenty's overall spending adjustments were well received by Republicans, although House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, said the governor might want to spend too much. Democrats liked some of the proposals, and said Pawlenty seemed to be picking out DFL proposals from the past.
"The governor is playing catch up," Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, said. "He's suddenly supportive of initiatives he's ignored for the past three years - initiatives supported and funded by the Minnesota Senate."
Pawlenty also would:
-- Appropriate $20 million to clean up the state's water.
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-- Speed the phase-in of basing corporate franchise taxes solely on sales, instead of the current tax that also taxes payroll and property.
-- Spend $10.3 million to improve early-childhood education.
-- Make $10.5 million available to fight the bird flu.
-- Increase by $93,000 payments to cover a rise in claims against the state when wolves kill livestock in northern Minnesota.
-- Spend nearly $1 million to help eliminate bovine tuberculosis in cattle that is being found in northwestern Minnesota.
-- Establish a team to track down illegal immigrants, costing the state $2.2 million.
-- Give income tax credits to farmers who invest in the dairy production facilities.
-- Implement a computer facial recognition system to allow the state to better identify people who are using driver's license fraudulently, at a $3 million cost.
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-- Spend $13.3 million to pay for Corrections Department salaries and benefits because of more inmates.
-- Add a law enforcement team, for $1 million, to investigate child Internet pornography.
-- Increase the Medical Assistance rate beginning in 2008 in the Walker Nursing Facility to build a new nursing home.
-- Add $35,000 for tree planting, and establish $45,000 in fees for special events held in state forests. He also would require payments in advance on timber sale permits.
