Skip to main content

Legacy report: concerns over possible conflicts of interest, misuse of funds

The legislative auditor on Wednesday released the first in-depth review of the state's voter-approved Legacy Amendment, which bumped up a sales tax to help fund arts and outdoors projects across the state. The auditor's report says oversight is "generally adequate" but also made some specific recommendations for improvement.
  • Author:
  • Updated:
    Original:

The legislative auditor on Wednesday released the first in-depth review of the state's voter-approved Legacy Amendment, which bumped up a sales tax to help fund arts and outdoors projects across the state. The auditor's report says oversight is "generally adequate" but also made some specific recommendations for improvement.

Next Up

2019_1229_Bears_Home_0831
MN Vikings

Ryan Poles picking Chicago creates battle of the rebuilds with Vikings

Both of the Vikings' GM finalists land in the same division looking to return to relevancy.

46433858332_ed10625522_3k
TV, Movies and The Arts

Report: 'This Is Us' star creating NBC series about MN girls' hockey team

No word on when the show will launch.

David Ortiz
MN Twins

Twins congratulate David Ortiz on HOF induction, it ends badly

Twins fans haven't forgotten the biggest mistake in franchise history.

Snowmobile tracks Any Arthur Flickr
MN News

Who left the burnt snowmobile on a frozen Minnesota lake?

There wasn't much left beyond the frame and a few other large, metal parts.

T Kline Robbinsdale City Council
MN News

Charges: Drunk council member fled police on wrong side of Hwy. 100

The complaint alleges he caused a wrong-way crash, then drove around an officer that tried to stop him.

20211010_Vikings_Lions_REG05_0560
MN Vikings

What does the future hold for the Vikings at linebacker?

Anthony Barr is hitting free agency, and Eric Kendricks is approaching age 30

vehicle car
MN News

String of vehicle thefts in St. Paul, most left running unattended

The department is urging people not to leave their car running unattended.

Josh Duhamel
TV, Movies and The Arts

Duhamel replaces Estevez on 'Mighty Ducks' show on Disney+

The reboot premiered in March 2021.

kid hospital doctor
MN Coronavirus

Child COVID hospitalizations reach pandemic-high in northern MN

As omicron surges, more kids are ending up in the hospital.

ice fishing close unsplash
Minnesota Life

'It's disgusting': Anglers dumping sewage on to popular ice fishing lake

A local CO told Bring Me The News it's people in newer, RV-style wheel houses.

Alejandro Rios and Michael Steward
MN News

Reward offered for information on 2021 double fatal shooting in St. Paul

It's been a year since Alejandro Rios and Michael Stewart were found dead on the sidewalk.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
MN Vikings

Reports: Poles to the Bears, Vikings 'may move quick' on Adofo-Mensah

That's according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Related

MN News

Legacy Amendment spending unaccounted for on public website

More than $100 million in Legacy Amendment funds are missing from state spending reports available to the public. The state is required to list where and how Legacy money is being spent. MPR News says the state leaves out specific details on its web site about which groups and projects received funding.

MN News

Twin Cities, outstate rift forms over Legacy amendment parks money

The Legacy Amendment created a fund for improvement of Minnesota parks but the state has reached no consensus on how the money should be divided. The formula was recently changed to direct more money away from the Twin Cities area. Now the Twin Cities think the formula is unfair, while some outstate communities think the changes did not go far enough.

MN News

U of M: Doctor violated conflict of interest policy, didn't disclose Medtronic work

The University of Minnesota Medical School sent a "cautionary letter" but did not recommend any formal punishment after a review found Dr. David Polly received but did not adequately disclose $1.2 million in consulting fees from Medtronic. Polly tells the Star Tribune in an interview that he agrees with the committee's findings.

MN News

State parks visits on the upswing; DNR credits Legacy-funded outreach

MN News

Metro counties want more of the Legacy Amendment outdoors money pie

Metro counties contribute almost two-thirds of the money going into the the Legacy Fund set up by a constitutional amendment. But parks in those counties get far less than half of the Legacy grants. Debates to make the distribution more 'equitable' are contentious.

MN News

New citizens committee to help oversee Legacy Amendment spending

The committee will field concerns about how Legacy money is being spent. Parks and trails receive 14.25 percent of Legacy money generated from the three-eighths-cent sales tax increase approved by voters last election.

MN News

Legacy Amendment money gives rise to dozens of far-ranging projects

Projects ranging from documenting the history of psychiatry in Minnesota to telling the story of the Cold War-era missile base in St. Bonifacius are getting thousands of dollars from the Legacy Amendment fund.

MN News

Can Legacy funds be used to fight aquatic invasive species?