The Friends of the Parks and Trails of Saint Paul and Ramsey County is strongly supporting the November 5, 2024 ballot initiative to continue allocating funds from the Minnesota Lottery to the environment and natural resources. The Friends joins more than 100 other conservation and outdoors-focused groups, businesses, and government entities. If a majority of Minnesota voters approves the constitutional amendment, revenue from the state-operated lottery will continue to be spent supporting outdoor causes through 2050.
This is the third time voters have had a say on the amendment. In both 1988 and again 10 years later, the initiative was approved by more than 70% of voters.
A yes vote will also make the following changes to the amendment:
- increase the amount of money that can be spent from the fund each year from 5.5% to 7.0% of the fund’s market value; and
- create a grant program to provide funding for projects related to addressing environmental issues in affected communities, environmental education, and natural resource conservation.
Since 1991, more than $1 billion in proceeds from the lottery have funded some 1,600 projects “for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources” throughout Minnesota. Projects affecting Ramsey County include researching and preventing introduction and expansion of invasive species into waters and land-based habitats, enhancing pollinator habitat, improving drinking water quality and more.