ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton this week called on the Minnesota Legislature to support funding for several additional urgent budget priorities this session. Governor Dayton’s proposals, outlined this week in a letter to legislative leaders, would invest $969,000 in a grant program that would continue state support for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in Minnesota. The Governor also is proposing an $8.72 million incentive program to increase timber harvesting on private lands and bolster Minnesota’s forest products industry.

 

Governor Dayton has proposed a $969,000 competitive grant program that would help Minnesota nonprofits operate call centers for a Minnesota Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Minnesota Suicide Prevention Lifeline would operate continuously and function as the state’s affiliate to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – providing life-saving counseling and resources to Minnesotans who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. According to the Minnesota Department of Health – Center for Health Statistics, the suicide rate in Minnesota has increased 19 percent since 2010, with 745 Minnesotans dying from suicide in 2016 alone.

 

“Minnesotans need a state-based suicide prevention lifeline that is able to serve our entire state. The need for this essential service is underscored by recent increases in suicide rates in Minnesota,” said Governor Dayton. “I strongly urge the Minnesota Legislature to approve this modest, but life-saving funding this Session.”

 

Right now, Minnesota only has one suicide prevention call center that answers calls when state residents contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. When that call center reaches capacity, Minnesota calls are routed to other states, which can add an average of three minutes to call response times. About 45 percent of Minnesota calls were routed to other states last year. Increasing the number of state-based providers will increase the number of calls answered in Minnesota.

 

Minnesota’s forest products industry is struggling due to a timber shortage. In response, Governor Dayton has proposed a new $8.72 million program to motivate private landowners to harvest and sell timber to mills in Minnesota.

 

“Minnesota’s forest products industry supports 64,000 jobs and contributes over $17.6 billion to our economy every year,” said Governor Dayton. “This new Timber Harvest Incentive will help address the timber shortage that is straining this important Minnesota industry, while continuing responsible and sustainable forest management. I urge the Legislature to approve the Incentive this session, for the benefit of tens of thousands of Minnesota workers whose jobs and livelihoods depend on it.”

 

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Governor Dayton’s proposed incentive program would increase the amount of timber harvested on private land by approximately 350,000 cords, or 20 percent, over the next two years. The proposal would increase timber availability to the forest product industry, encourage sound forest management on private lands, and help support tens of thousands of forest industry jobs in Minnesota.

 

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To learn more about these and other updates to Governor Dayton’s supplemental budget proposal, CLICK HERE. To learn more about Governor Dayton’s Budget for a Better Minnesota, CLICK HERE.