Bill would help fund community food shelves in towns

Towns may be permitted to give money to community food shelves, like cities and counties already can.

HF2636, sponsored by Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton), was held over Tuesday by the House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee.

The bill would essentially put towns– the primary local government for unincorporated areas – on the same level as counties and cities when it comes to being allowed to provide grants to nonprofits that operate community food shelves.

Towns would be able to use money from the General Fund or any other unrestricted money for these grants, at an amount determined by the governing body. This is something cities have been able to do since 1995 and counties since 1998, according to the nonpartisan House Research Department.

However, there was some discussion about which governing body of a town would be able to determine the amount, either the town board of supervisors or electors of the town.

Erickson said she plans to speak with the Minnesota Association of Townships, which represents nearly all of the state’s 1,781 towns, to help with the clarification. The plan is to amend the bill at that point and move it forward.

The Senate companion, SF2364, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Mathews (R-Milaca), awaits action the Senate Local Government Committee.