ST. PAUL -- Minnesota will commemorate its 150th year of statehood in just over two months, and the famously modest state could end up with a modest sesquicentennial celebration.
It all comes down to money. The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission, a group of 17 people including gubernatorial appointees and lawmakers from both major parties, is scrambling to raise about $1 million in private donations to fund a memorable birthday party for the state.
Though Gov. Tim Pawlenty asked lawmakers for $2 million last year to fund the year-long party, the Legislature appropriated $750,000. Nearly half of that, $325,000, went immediately to counties for local programs. Another $325,000 is earmarked for festivities at the Capitol and during the state fair. The remaining $100,000 went to administrative costs.
Sesquicentennial Commission Executive Director Jane Leonard said that while there are many activities in the planning stages, details of each of those may need to be scaled back once the reality of the funding sets in during the next few weeks.
Helms works for Forum Communications Co., which owns the Daily Globe.
