Minnesota’s small towns and counties could soon catch a break on costly highway projects. On Wednesday, Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) presented Senate File 285 to the Senate Transportation Committee, a bill that would stop the state from forcing local governments to cover part of the costs for trunk highway construction. 

“For too long, cities and counties have had to stretch or drain their road budgets to accommodate state highway projects,” Senator Jasinski said. “Local taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for projects they don’t control, and small cities shouldn’t have to put their own road repairs on hold due to the timing of a state project.” 

Right now, local governments must pay for parts of trunk highway projects, including costs for connecting roads, intersections, and utility work. That money often comes from County State Aid Highway funds, city street aid, or other local road budgets, draining resources that should be used for local road maintenance.  

Senate File 285 changes that. The bill would prevent MnDOT from requiring local governments to cover costs within the highway right-of-way, including utility relocation and other expenses caused by the project itself. 

A broad coalition of local leaders, including mayors and county officials, showed up to support the bill, making it clear that these cost burdens have strained local road budgets across Minnesota:  

• Jim Offerdahl, Fosston Mayor (REMOTE) 

• Dan Fabian, Roseau Mayor (REMOTE) 

• Todd Peterson, Roseau Community Development Coordinator / Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (REMOTE)  

• Mary Supple, Richfield Mayor / League of Minnesota Cities 

• Justin Femrite, Elk River Public Works Director & Chief Engineer / City Engineers Association of Minnesota 

• Tim Murray, Retired Faribault City Engineer 

• Steven Huser, City of Minneapolis Government Relations 

• Cap O’Rourke, Minnesota Small Cities 

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