Group managing outdoors tax to hold first meeting

St. Paul, Minn. — The Outdoor Heritage Council meets for the first time today.

The group will oversee money raised in the new state sales tax.

On election day, Minnesotans voted in favor of a new .375 percent sales tax for the environment.

It's expected to raise nearly $300 million dollars a year.

A third of that will go to protect forests, prairies and wetlands for wildlife habitat, hunting, and fishing.

Projects could include funding local groups to improve habitat, and buying big chunks of land to keep it open for wildlife and the public.

The Outdoor Heritage Council is an advisory group composed of citizens and legislators. It will examine projects throughout the state and make recommendations to the legislature by April 1.

The money starts coming in in July.