IRRRB mulls $33 million 2016 budget

Infrastructure for an expansion to Joy Global in Virginia, Minnesota, is among the projects in the proposed IRRRB public works budget for FY '16.

Infrastructure for an expansion to Joy Global in Virginia, Minnesota, is among the projects in the proposed IRRRB public works budget for FY ’16.

Even though the legislative session may go to the wire tonight at midnight, Iron Range lawmakers — who comprise the statutory Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board — will meet Tuesday morning in St. Paul to hash out the agency’s $33 million FY 2016 budget.

“I am pleased that over half of the proposed budget is dedicated to development projects and programs,” said IRRRB Commissioner Mark Phillips in an agency press release. “This funding reflects our commitment to investing in a better future for northeastern Minnesota.”

That same release said that the agency budget proposal would allocate 51 percent of the agency’s spending to development projects, 29 percent to Giants Ridge and 21 percent for agency operations. As many of you know, the IRRRB is not funded by the state general fund, but rather by taconite taxes that mines pay in lieu of local property taxes for the purpose of developing communities affected by mining.

 

While we’ll be learning more today and at tomorrow’s meeting about the nature of the potential economic development projects, we do know what the agency is proposing for $1.6 million in public works grants.

Here’s that list:

 

Organization

Project Description

Grant Award

City of Cook

Infrastructure, site work and construction of a new Emergency Services Facility

           $200,000

City of Cook

Infrastructure, site work and construction for a new Community Center

50,000

City of Ely

Infrastructure, roads and site work for the expansion of the Ely Business Park

            200,000

City of Grand Marais

Water, sewer, utilities extension, and site work for renovation and expansion of the Cook County North Shore Hospital & Care Center

100,000

City of Hibbing

Water, sewer, utilities, roads, and site work for a new 32-unit housing development project

300,000

City of Mountain Iron

Sewer, force main pipe, and a new lift station to service five businesses and new commercial development on Miners Drive

75,000

Nashwauk Township

Infrastructure, site work, and construction for a new town hall

150,000

City of Virginia

Infrastructure and site work for a new development on 9th Street North

250,000

City of Virginia

Phase II of the Joy Global Expansion Project in the Virginia Business Park

300,000

 

 

$1,625,000

Comments

  1. 16.5M for Giants Ridge and operating agency. There is really nothing else to say but we need to demand better from the iRRRB ! It has been the same old shell game for DFL cronies for past 35 yrs.

  2. David Gray says

    They might accomplish more by using funds to grant blanket business tax relief to all IRRRB covered areas.

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