Funds for the Public Health Laboratory
A Division of the Minnesota Department of Health
State Government Special Revenue Fund
The state government special revenue fund is a group of more than 20 accounts mostly in the Health and Human Services area. Money in the fund comes from fees and other charges. For example, the Public Health Lab collects fees for newborn screening and specimen handling that are directed to and managed in this fund.
Restricted Miscellaneous Special Revenue Fund
The special revenue fund includes numerous small accounts that have revenues dedicated to specific purposes. Most appropriations from special revenue fund accounts are directed by statute, but some are direct. Money in the fund comes from fees and charges administered by state agencies. The statute or law for special or dedicated purposes limits the expenditures of the fund so that receipts collected are appropriated for relevant expenditures.
Federal Fund
The federal fund accounts for federal money received by state agencies. The fund receives grant-in-aid from the federal government. Money in the fund is available for expenditure in accordance with the requirement of federal law. The statutory appropriation of federal funds is subject to a legislative review process. Some expenditure of federal funds may be through direct legislative appropriations.
General Fund
The general fund is the state’s largest fund with the most flexibility. It is the revenue that has been deposited in the treasury for the usual running and incidental expenses of the state government and does not include money deposited in the treasury for special or dedicated purposes. Major revenue sources include individual income tax, general sales tax, corporate income tax, and statewide property tax.
Environment and Natural Resource Fund
The trust fund is a permanent fund, similar to an endowment. The purpose is to fund projects of long-term benefit to Minnesota’s environment and natural resources. It must supplement, not supplant, the traditional sources of money, and thus should result in a net increase in spending on environment and natural resource projects.
The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources adopts a strategic plan for making expenditures from the trust fund, including identifying the priority areas for funding for the next six years. The strategic plan must be updated every two years.
Clean Water Fund
The State receives federal capitalization grants under Title VI of the Federal Clean Water Act, as well as state matching grants. These funds are leveraged with proceeds from the State’s revenue bonds to provide below-market-rate loans to municipalities and eligible political subdivisions in order to facilitate the construction of wastewater treatment facilities.
Before the State can approve any particular loan, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency must certify the applicant’s project based on technical and environmental reviews. The State may issue negotiable bonds in a principal amount that the State determines necessary to provide sufficient funds for achieving its purposes, subject to statutory limitation on the amount of bonds outstanding.
Investment income and all revenues from loans, fees, and charges of the State are credited to the fund. The fund also receives federal capitalization grants and state match in the form of transfers from the General Fund, the General Projects Fund or the Building Fund.
Money in the fund is used to provide financial assistance for the design, planning, and improvement and construction of municipal high-cost wastewater treatment systems. A small portion of the funds is available for administrative expenses associated with operating the programs.
If you have questions or comments, please contact our Public Health Laboratory at health.mdhlab@state.mn.us or call 651-201-5200.