House panel to review sales tax money for arts, outdoors

The first outdoors and cultural projects funded by a voter-approved Minnesota sales tax increase get some legislative attention this week.

A House panel convenes Tuesday for updates on the projects, which range from an effort to preserve large pieces of forest near Grand Rapids to new state park maps and youth museum visits.

It's been about three months since lawmakers and Gov. Tim Pawlenty approved nearly $400 million worth of habitat, water, park and arts projects for the next two years. The state sales tax went up three-eighths of a percent on July 1 to pay for the spending.

The House Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division will hear the latest on the projects, including a planned Web site to track the spending.