Fiscally responsible budget would protect Minnesota’s financial future, while making critical investments in an economy that works better for all Minnesotans
Budget prioritizes investments in Minnesota children, families, and communities
ST. PAUL, MN – This morning, Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith
proposed a supplemental state budget that would protect Minnesota’s financial future, while making critical investments in an economy that works better for all Minnesotans. Their plan would ensure long-term fiscal stability for Minnesota, protect the state’s finances from future economic downturns, and secure needed investments for Minnesota children, families, and communities.
Following the news conference, leaders from across Minnesota began weighing-in on the proposal, voicing their support for the Governor and Lt. Governor’s priorities for the state. Here’s an early look at what Minnesotans are saying about the Governor and Lt. Governor’s budget proposal.
“When I took office in 2011, Minnesota faced a $6 billion budget deficit, and Minnesota's children, families, and communities suffered the consequences. The Supplemental Budget that Lt. Governor Smith and I are proposing would protect the financial stability of our state government, while making essential investments to continue to build a better Minnesota.”
--- Governor Mark Dayton
“The investments that Governor Dayton and I have proposed will help build an economy that works for everyone, everywhere in Minnesota, not just those at the top. These investments would work to eliminate economic disparities, expand essential infrastructure across Minnesota, and ensure that all Minnesotans have a fair shot to get ahead in today’s innovation economy.”
--- Lt. Governor Tina Smith
“Governor Dayton’s prudent leadership has righted the fiscal ship in Minnesota. By focusing on balanced budget proposals, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have paid back our schools, turned a $6 billion deficit into six straight projected budget surpluses, and expanded essential investments to ensure Minnesota’s economy continues to grow and thrive.”
--- MMB Commissioner Myron Frans
“Governor Dayton’s budget prioritizes many of the same goals the Senate DFL Caucus has this session. Particularly his dedication to bringing equity for workers and families, expanding education opportunities, and building Minnesota are shared priorities. I thank the Governor for delivering a budget that focuses on building an economy that works for all Minnesotans.”
--- Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk
“From ensuring that greater Minnesota families have access to high speed internet to creating more opportunity for Minnesotans of color, the Governor is working to build an economy that works better for all Minnesotans. The Governor has wisely protected Minnesota’s financial future in his budget, while making strategic investments like protecting Minnesotans personal data from cyber attacks. We must not repeat mistakes from the past and plunge our state into deficits with giveaways to special interests and the wealthy few. We are eager to work with the Governor to make this a productive session where we create more opportunities for the families in Minnesota that are still feeling squeezed by an economy that isn’t working for everyone.”
--- House Minority Leader Paul Thissen
“Ensuring the safety of our courthouses is essential to preserving access to our justice system. Thousands of Minnesotans enter their local courthouse every day to seek justice, protect their rights, access government services, and fulfill their duties as citizens and taxpayers. The Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative will help ensure the safety of these important public facilities, and we appreciate Governor’s Dayton’s support.”
--- Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea
“The University's supplemental budget request includes funding to improve access to quality health care across the state and to secure the University’s digital assets. I am grateful Governor Dayton recognizes the importance of these initiatives. I look forward to continued partnership with the Governor and the Legislature.”
--- University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler
“Governor Dayton should be commended for submitting a budget plan that builds on Minnesota’s economic success, invests in our future, and begins to address our state’s persistent racial and economic disparities. By proposing investments in E-12 education, job creation, transportation, and statewide infrastructure, Governor Dayton continues to build on his record of putting working people and their families ahead of big corporations and a wealthy few. We urge House and Senate leaders to also put working Minnesotans first when they release their budget plans.”
--- AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy
“The Governor’s supplemental budget brings necessary action to early learning. His proposal will provide opportunities to many children and their families across Minnesota. Focusing on early childhood education is a proven strategy. Education has been Minnesota’s key to success and this proposal continues on that path with investments that will lead to a more prosperous future for the next generation. I’m excited to work with the Governor on this important proposal.”
--- State Representative Erin Murphy
“Governor Dayton’s budget prioritizes many of the same goals the Senate DFL Caucus has this session. Particularly his dedication to bringing equity for workers and families, expanding education opportunities, and building Minnesota are shared priorities. I thank the Governor for delivering a budget that focuses on building an economy that works for all Minnesotans.”
--- Marie Bounds, home care worker from Brooklyn Park
“Governor Dayton’s supplemental budget proposal prioritizes issues that all Minnesotans care about, especially those that will lift Greater Minnesota up. The last year saw a lack of focus and partisan games played with Greater Minnesota. Today the Governor refocused attention on the need to grow rural Minnesota through a $100 million investment in broadband and $46 million in local government aid to our cities and counties. He also prioritized transportation and infrastructure investments, and restated his continuing commitment to the next generation through investments that will help kids get ahead with early childhood education. I’m looking forward to making sure the legislature responds to the Governor’s call to action this session."
--- State Representative Paul Marquart
“Everyone agrees that keeping our courthouses safe and secure is extremely important. However, many counties struggle to afford needed security improvements relying solely on local property tax revenue, resulting in wide disparities in security infrastructure and staffing from courthouse to courthouse. The Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative will help all counties – small and large, rural and urban – have a greater ability to implement needed security improvements, while ensuring that the state and county share the responsibility of securing these county-owned, jointly-used facilities.”
--- Blue Earth County Commissioner Will Purvis
"We must work to address the student debt crisis that is affecting Minnesota students and families. The Governor’s plan to provide $20 million in Equity and Opportunity Initiative Grants will help college students graduate on-time and with less debt. It dovetails with the agenda House DFLers put forward to make college education more affordable. We support the Governor's initiative, and it pairs well with our proposals to freeze tuition, expand student loan refinancing, and provide tax credits for student loan payments of up to $5,000 per year. We share the Governor's commitment to making higher education more affordable and accessible and look forward to working with him in the 2016 session."
--- State Representative Melissa Hortman
“This is a shot in the arm for cities across the state. The Governor is making a wise decision by choosing to invest some of the surplus money into programs like LGA that help keep our state healthy and poised for a bright future. This $21.5 million will allow cities to invest in the critical services and infrastructure that make our communities more livable for residents and better for businesses. Now that the Governor and the Senate have come out in favor of an LGA increase, it’s time for House members to support Minnesota’s cities as well. We encourage our legislators in the House to address the concerns of their constituents and the communities they represent by supporting an LGA increase.”
--- Robert Broeder, LeSueur Mayor and President of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities
“We applaud Governor Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith for their continued leadership on rural broadband funding. Expanding broadband access allows all businesses to compete in today’s global economy, increases educational opportunities, and helps people stay in touch with health care providers to receive care and monitor their health conditions. This investment would be a significant step towards achieving our goal of ensuring that all Minnesotans — border to border — have access to broadband. We hope that all stakeholders will work together to make a strong investment in broadband this year.”
--- Minnesota High Tech Association President and CEO, and Chair of the Broadband Task Force, Margaret Anderson Kelliher
"We appreciate the governor's approach for investing the surplus in Minnesota's future – its families, children and educators. His choices will send more healthy children to preschool, more preschool children to kindergarten ready to learn and more kindergarteners to full-service community schools where they will be well supported. The governor understands Minnesota cannot maintain quality public schools if it fails to attract and retain more qualified teachers, especially teachers of color. The teacher shortage is real and we applaud the governor for taking action. We wish the governor's proposal for voluntary pre-K was large enough to give every family access to high-quality preschool, but this budget is an important step forward. Education Minnesota will continue advocating for voluntary, high-quality pre-K for every family because this policy is the best way to address opportunity gaps and prepare the next generation of Minnesota citizens and workers."
--- Education Minnesota President Denise Specht
“I’m glad to see Governor Dayton has continued to make education a priority, in particular pre-k for Minnesota 4-year-olds and measures to address the teacher shortage crisis facing Minnesota schools. Due to our smaller budget surplus and many other needs across the state, the Governor’s scaled down pre-k proposal is an incremental step forward – but it’s moving in the right direction. In the Senate we will also focus on the continuing school counselor shortage, hearing a bill later this week on the issue. All-in-all, the Governor’s supplemental budget proposal is a good start, and we look forward to hearing more about it in the days ahead.”
--- State Senator Chuck Wiger
“Governor Dayton’s supplemental budget request includes a set of key strategic investments that benefit public health and provide real value for Minnesota’s people and communities. In particular, the Governor’s investment of $60 million for evidence-based home visiting to support pregnant and parenting teens over the next three years will help ensure a strong foundation and better outcomes for teens and their children. Focusing on pregnant and parenting teens is a priority for home visiting services given the strong evidence of poor outcomes for both teen parents and children born to teen parents. These poor outcomes include higher rates of prematurity, low birthweight, developmental delays and lower graduation rates among teen parents, as well an increased risk of lifelong intergenerational poverty. Designed to come at a critical juncture for young mothers and their children, home visiting is a proven, effective intervention that can serve as a key link to and coordinate with quality child care, early childhood special education and other services that make a difference in the lives of young parents and their children. Research shows home visiting results in improved prenatal health, fewer childhood injuries, fewer subsequent pregnancies, improved school readiness and higher rates of maternal education and employment. When fully implemented, this expansion will serve an additional 4,100 families each year. Minnesotans around the state will benefit for many years from this strategic public health investment.”
--- Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger
“I am pleased Governor Dayton has made equity a serious area of investment in his budget. Programs like Pathways to Prosperity and Youth at Work have a reputable track record of breaking the cycle of poverty for people of color. Governor Dayton’s leadership and attention to elimination of economic and racial disparities has elevated this conversation to a level that up until this point in Minnesota history has been unparalleled. I know my colleagues share my appreciation that Governor Dayton recommended $33 million in statewide equity funding be at the discretion of the legislature, recognizing the unique expertise of legislators."
---Senate Deputy Majority Leader Sen. Jeff Hayden
“Governor Dayton’s plan is the first supplemental budget proposal Minnesotans of color have ever seen that directly acknowledges and addresses the challenges faced by minority communities in our state. It is not going to fix economic and educational disparities overnight, but I appreciate the effort that has been put forward, and will work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to take these initial plans and improve them even further. Communities of color bring much to our state, and by addressing these issues directly, they will grow stronger just as we help all of Minnesota to grow stronger.”
---Sen. Patricia Torres Ray
“Many of the most complicated challenges facing members of my community today come back to an uncomplicated root – racial bias, and it’s wrong. If we can reduce and eliminate racial disparities we can improve quality of life, end generational poverty, and strengthen the fabric of our communities. The Governor’s pledge to invest $100 million of our budget surplus to address racial disparities is needed, and it is critically important for the health, education, and economic opportunity for everyone in our community.”
---Rep. Susan Allen (DFL-Minneapolis) was glad to see the Governor’s initiative to end racial disparities.
“I appreciate Governor Dayton's commitment to racial equity and that he had invited communities of color and American Indians to the table to ensure that we can offer our own solutions. The Governor has been a champion for children and families, and these initiatives, along with many others, give support to all families, especially families of color and American Indian families. I am always encouraged to hear his strong support for our students and especially the effort to help more students of color become teachers of color. We know, and I know, that the learning bond between teachers and students is only deepened when they share similar experiences. With the student debt crisis, and the current teacher shortage, we need to tackle this problem from many fronts and these efforts will help to that end. I believe we must also help low income families access the child care they need to get ahead and we must support child care providers themselves, many of whom are people of color. I appreciate Governor Dayton's support to increase provider reimbursement rates and I’m hopeful we can augment his proposal with an increase to the CCAP funding for working families.”
---Rep. Peggy Flanagan
“I welcome the Governor’s recommendations for meaningful investments that can begin to tackle disparities for all Minnesotans – in education, healthcare, transportation and employment. The Governor’s budget is a first step in directly addressing this dilemma and will help to expand economic opportunity for all. I look forward to working with community stakeholders to make significant progress this session.”
---Sen. Melisa Franzen
“I applaud Governor Dayton’s emphasis on prioritizing the need to address racial disparities in Minnesota. Through the expansion of economic opportunities and education, I’m confident that we’ll see the progress we’ve been working toward. It should be our common interest to build an economy that works for all Minnesotans especially the most vulnerable. I’m grateful the governor has listened.”
---Sen. Foung Hawj
“I am in support of these proposals, this plan is the largest major action ever taken by a Minnesota Governor to address huge, systemic racial disparities, with state investment. I look forward to shaping what that looks like as an end product given the broad diversity of our state.”
---Rep. Carlos Mariani
“The Governor’s support for our students and also helping their families better support them has been proven by his visits to schools in our neighborhoods, and now by the real funding he is putting toward important initiatives like getting more teachers of color in the classroom and helping students of color from low income families finish college. We can reduce and eliminate racial disparities in our state, but we must be intentional and honest about where those disparities are. I think the Governor’s supplemental budget makes an honest effort to target root causes to racial disparities that we can address now, and I hope to see his commitment and support continue and grow. These initiatives are good steps, but we must continue to do more.”
---Rep. Rena Moran
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Read More about the Supplemental Budget
QUICK LOOK: A quick look at the overall numbers in the supplemental budget proposal [
Link]
SPREADSHEET: Supplemental budget recommendations, net general fund impact [
Link]
DETAILED SUMMARIES: Detailed summaries of supplemental budget line items, by agency [
Link]
FACT SHEET: A Responsible Budget that Works for All Minnesotans [
Link]
FACT SHEET: A Fiscally Responsible Budget for a Better Minnesota [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Investing in Kids, Families, and Communities [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Investing in Early Learning [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Building an Economy that Works for All Minnesotans [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Tax Cuts for Over 400,000 Minnesotans [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Fixing Our Roads, Bridges, and Transit Systems [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Transportation Investments Listed by County, City [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Broadband: Connecting to the 21st Century Economy [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Critical Needs: Mental Health and Public Safety [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Investing in Infrastructure, Creating 39,900 Jobs [
Link]
FACT SHEET: Cleaning Up Minnesota’s Water [
Link]
