Battle Over MN Legacy Dollars Heating Up Again

ST. CLOUD (AP) -- The battle between Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities over state funding for parks and trails is heating up again.

At stake is about $40 million annually from Minnesota Legacy Amendment funds that are divided among Twin Cities parks, state parks and regional parks in Greater Minnesota.

Earlier this year, 10 Twin Cities agencies passed a resolution calling the current split unfair. In response, cities and counties in Greater Minnesota have passed their own resolutions calling for an even greater share.

It's likely to be a contentious issue that spills into next year's legislative session.

Republican state Senator John Pederson of St. Cloud says metro residents have "an abundance of parks," while "a lot of catch-up" needs to be done in Greater Minnesota.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)