Legislative Update - Back to School

Dear Neighbors, 

While the temperature shows summer is still in full force, many families are in back-to-school mode with the classroom only a few days away. This year, students are heading back with a historic amount of funding, thanks to our new K-12 Education Budget we passed this year - the highlights of which include the following:

Every child in our state deserves a world-class education, and this year, our schools are better equipped to reach that goal. You can read more about these and other investments our students will benefit from this year here. 

Rebate Check Delivery Begins

Another thing we passed this year - this one in our Tax Bill - were rebate checks, which have already started hitting bank accounts. The legislation we passed provides payments to eligible Minnesotans of:

• $520 for married couples filing a joint 2021 income or property tax return with an adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less.
• $260 for all other individuals with a 2021 adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less.
• Another $260 for each dependent, up to three dependents.

Direct deposit payments will go out first, followed by paper checks in the mail. The Minnesota Department of Revenue expects the nearly 2.1 million rebate payments to be initiated by the end of September. Please feel free to reach out to my office if you have questions or if you haven’t received your check by the end of next month.

More information on these rebate checks can be found on the Department of Revenue’s website. 

4th Annual Red Blue Build

It’s been hot out there, but the heat didn’t slow us down at the 4th Annual Red Blue Build with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity! Great time with colleagues across the aisle working together to create the foundation of home ownership for more Minnesotans.

Cedar Avenue Improvements

A heads up for some upcoming changes at the intersections of Cedar Ave & Edgewater Blvd, and Cedar Ave & Nokomis Pkwy. The short-term improvements will be installed at these intersections in the upcoming weeks:

• Close Median at Edgewater Blvd, Right In, Right Out Onto/From Edgewater Blvd Only, for a 6-Week Evaluation Period
• Install Bollard Median on North Leg of Lake Nokomis Pkwy
• Convert the Two Northbound Through Lanes to One Through and One Left Turn Lane
• Install Northbound Left Turn Lane Arrow
• Install Eastbound Right Turn Arrow
• Improve Traffic Signal Visibility

The goal of the short-term improvements to these intersections is to increase pedestrian, bike, and car safety. You can visit the project page for updates to these projects, and to give feedback/input on the short-term improvements after they are installed.

Stay cool out there, eat some good food at the fair, and have a great school year!

In partnership, 

Michael Howard