MN ballot question to decide whether the state lottery will fund conservation efforts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – With Election Day on Tuesday, there is a question on the ballot that could impact Minnesota's environment.

What is the question?

The question for voters is whether they want to renew some of the state's lottery funds for environment and natural resources. A policy expert at the University of Minnesota says this fund was created in 1988.

READ MORE: MN votes in November on lottery winnings to fund environmental projects

“There is no new tax money. This comes from the state lottery. If you don’t participate in the state lottery, it won’t affect you at all,” said Larry Jacobs, a politics professor at the University of Minnesota.

For 35 years, 40% of the Minnesota Lottery's revenue has gone toward protecting drinking water sources and the water quality of lakes, rivers and streams. It was renovated in 1998. Voters can decide on Tuesday whether they want to extend it again for another 25 years.

“It's about a billion dollars that has already gone into the environment. Minnesotans have a passion for the outdoors and this is the way they back it up with hard-earned dollars,” Jacobs said.

This includes preserving wildlife habitat and natural areas and expanding access to parks and trails.

What they say

According to Jacobs, the vote on this fund has broad support. However, some Republicans criticized the trust fund renewal.

“There are Republicans who are criticizing it now for a number of reasons. One of them is that the legislature will no longer play a role. The DNR commissioner will make the final decisions,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs said that given the heated nature of the White House race and a possible Minnesota State House flip, the lottery question may have been overlooked as to how important it could be.

“At the bottom is this constitutional amendment about whether 40% of the state lottery should continue to go to the environment and natural resources,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs added that if voters agree and want to move forward with the renewal, they would have to fill out the “yes” box. If you skip this vote question, it will continue as a “no” vote.

If it doesn't pass, the money would go back into the state's general fund, and then state lawmakers would decide what to do with it.