Small cities, towns, and townships across Minnesota could soon get an infusion of $25 million for street and road repairs under legislation authored by State Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) that is moving through the Senate. 

The bill, Senate File 4899, provides funding to address a gap before a new dedicated funding stream for smaller municipal road projects kicks in next year. The proposal was heard Wednesday in the Senate Transportation Committee.  

“Our small communities have been getting shortchanged for too long when it comes to road funding,” Senator Jasinski said. “Failing roads and streets hurt public safety, economic growth, and our quality of life. We see it all over the state but particularly outside the metro. This emergency funding will help our small cities make critical road improvements as we get the new dedicated funding program up and running.”  

In 2023, Senator Jasinski fought to create Minnesota’s first small cities assistance account, establishing an ongoing road repair revenue source specifically for townships, cities, and towns with a population of fewer than 5,000. However, that new pot of money does not become available until fiscal year 2025. 

To address the one-year gap, Senator Jasinski’s proposal would provide $25 million from the state’s general fund for a cash infusion in July 2024 to the small cities account. 

Jon Hawkinson, mayor of the city of Olivia; Jeff Dahl, city manager for the city of Wayzata; Cap O’Rourke, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Small Cities; and Anne Finn, Intergovernmental Relations Director at the League of Minnesota Cities testified in support of the bill. 

Letters supporting the bill were submitted by the Minnesota Township Officers Association and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC). 

The township officers said years of underfunding has “led to rapidly deteriorating road conditions” and that the $25 million appropriation “will help provide much needed resources.” 

Meanwhile, CMGC wrote that the funding “will help ensure the local transportation network remains safe and reliable” in Greater Minnesota. 

The bill was laid over and will be considered for a larger transportation funding bill later in session.