$56,000

• A renter must earn $27.47/hour ($56,,000) to afford a 2 bedroom rental in SE MN
• 60% of renter households spend more than 50% of their income on rent
• Only 20% of those eligible for federal housing assistance receive help due to lack of funding
• Since 1960, renters’ incomes have gone up 5%; rents have gone up 61%
• (Statistics are provided by Family Promise)

 

Children and Homelessness

• Children who live in an unstable housing situation are 3 times more likely to placed in special education programs, 8-9 times more likely to repeat a grade, and more likely to suffer from emotional problems
• 1 in 19 children will experience homelessness by the time they turn six years old
• 886 children in Olmsted County are experiencing homelessness
• 35% of the total Minnesota population experiencing homelessness is comprised of families with children
• Family Serviced has served 79 families (to date) at an average cost of $1,370 per family and provided stabilization services until permanent housing can be found

Olmsted County HRA owns housing that is suitable to keep families together.  HRA contracts with Family Services to manage and operate the facility and collaborates with HRA to find permanent housing

 

Federal Funds Cut Notice

Olmsted County received notice from the MN Department of health that the (Federal) Center for Disease Control is cancelling about $38,000,000 in public health investments effective February 11.  Olmsted County was awarded $440,000 2022 – 2027.  There is $174,660 of this grant left that could be lost

Olmsted County was awarded $440,000 for 2022 through 2027. There is $174,660 of this grant left that could be lost as a result of this action.  Minnesota filed a lawsuit along with other states objecting to this cut and asked for a restraining order to keep funding in place while the lawsuit proceeds.  The restraining order was granted.

 

We are Water Exhibit

Oxbow Park will host the We Are Water MN exhibit from February 25 through April 20.

For more information see Olmsted County  Parks and Trails programs webpage.

 

State-Level Actions

• Minnesota previously paused payments for up to 90 days and hired Optum for third party audits.
• DHS formally appealed CMS’s decision; administrative hearing are pending.
• Some providers have sued the state over delayed payments.
• The state is conducting revalidations for about 5800 providers of these programs with the goal of completion by the end of May (including the Olmsted County Assertive Community Treatment team).

Summary

• Payments remain deferred (not permanently withheld).
• Resumption depends on CMS audit completion and compliance plan approval.

 

Property Taxes

Olmsted County prepared a video to explain how property taxes work.  Here is the link to the video:  https://www.olmstedcounty.gov/news/new-video-how-property-taxes-work-olmsted-county

 

Performance Arts Center

The Seneca property site was a gift to the people of Olmsted County by Dr. Graham and his wife, Blanche.  I believe it is important that the land be used for public good for the people of the county.  The County Board has conducted several surveys and a Request for Proposals to determine a good purpose for the land; however, nothing was deemed appropriate for the site.  Recently, a group represented a proposal to develop a Performance Arts Center approached the Board.  The Board considered their proposal.  I believe that the proposal fits within the public good.  It is unique in the region, and would enhance a vibrant quality of life in Olmsted County.

The Board offered land at the Seneca site to locate a structure to locate the Performance Arts Center.  The Board would not sell or give the land away; rather the Board would lease the land.  The Board would not subsidize the operation.  Additionally, the offer of a place to locate a building is contingent upon the Performance Arts group creating a business model to fund the construction, management, and operation the Center.  The Performance Arts group will have to raise capital in the range of $50 – $100 million.  The Performance Arts group will keep the Board apprised of their progress and believes it would take about 5-7 years to reach their goal.

This endeavor is not in competition with the Chateau Theater, Mayo Civic Auditorium, or local theater groups.  The building would be specifically designed for acoustic excellence and for performances from solos to Broadway productions.

Legal agreements are in the process of being written to codify an agreement between the County and the Performance Art Group.  Although this is an exciting and interesting proposal, many pieces have to come together before an agreement is reached.

There are examples of successful Performance Arts Centers in the Midwest.  To get a better idea of what has been proposed see Fox Cities Performance Arts Center, Appleton, Wisconsin:  https://foxcitiespac.com  and Washington Performance Center, Sioux Falls:  https://www.washingtonpavilion.org ).