(KNSI) — A St. Cloud lawmaker is highlighting two major wins from the state’s Higher Education Budget, funding for the area’s new medical campus and a creative solution to Minnesota’s police officer shortage.
Representative Dan Wolgamott told KNSI News the budget includes an ongoing $1.5 million for the University of Minnesota Medical School and CentraCare-St. Cloud Medical School partnership. “That funding will go directly towards establishing and operating the new residency programs. And it will cover the cost for administration, curriculum development, resident recruitment, training and residence stipends.”
The medical school is welcoming its first class this fall.
Beyond healthcare workforce development, Wolgamott says he also tackled public safety challenges by proposing a Law Enforcement Scholarship Program. “It’s probably my favorite thing from the higher education bill that I authored as co-chair. And it’s going to be one more step towards making sure that we have the police officers that we need on the streets keeping our communities safe.”
Wolgamott says it addresses a critical staffing shortage as the state has about 1,000 open police positions and approximately 2,300 officers approaching retirement. The $500,000 initiative, administered through Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, covers college costs for current officers and their dependents. If an officer delays retirement, their children can have their education funded, whether they’re pursuing law enforcement degrees or not.
Wolgamott says the program, modeled after successful legislation in Nebraska, will buy the state crucial time to train the next generation of police officers while maintaining current staffing levels.
With Governor Tim Walz signing the bill into law after a one-day special session earlier this month, St. Cloud now stands to benefit from both expanded medical training capacity and a more stable law enforcement workforce statewide.
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