There are generally four major buckets of funds for Minnesota State Parks and Trails.
The General Fund is the state’s main operating fund and is used to support state programs and services, including parks and trails. The General Fund is primarily funded through individual, corporate, and sales taxes, and is appropriated biennially by the Minnesota legislature.
Vehicle permits, camping fees, facility rentals, and concessions.
The state sells bonds paid back over time to fund large capital projects such as land acquisition, construction projects and trail repairs.
Special funds such as the Legacy Amendment and the State Lottery both help pay for Minnesota’s parks and trails.
The General Fund is the state’s main operating funds and the single most important funding stream for state parks and trails. All taxes, minus dedicated taxes such as the Legacy Amendment, are deposited into the state’s General Fund. This money is appropriated by the legislature biennially, in even years.
Having everyone contribute to the same pot keeps costs divided equitably among Minnesotans and allows the legislature to appropriate money to things that most Minnesotans value.
The General Fund is well established, has long been the most important source for parks and trails, and has been durable for many years.
