Dear Neighbors,
I hope you’ve had a great week and are looking forward to another warm weekend. We’re staying busy at the Capitol with some long nights to complete our work. Here’s a quick update from St. Paul.
Budget Forecast
On Tuesday, we learned that Minnesota is set to have an increased budget surplus - now up to $1.65 billion dollars. It’s obviously positive to avoid a deficit, but it means that the state is taking too much of your taxes. What I’ve heard from people in my district is they’ve been paying too much in state taxes, and it shows with this surplus.
The ever-increasing budget surplus means taxes are too high, and the legislature needs to look for ways to responsibly ease this burden on families and the hardworking people of Minnesota. As we put together the state’s budget in the coming weeks, we’ll prioritize tax relief along with funding our top priorities like education and healthcare.
New Bill
Yesterday, I introduced legislation that requires the Department of Human Services to create a strategic plan to eliminate HIV/AIDS in our state. This isn’t always a disease that’s talked about, but it’s still a big issue in Minnesota, and one we need to address going forward. I’m encouraged to already have 16 other legislators from both parties signed on as co-authors.
Local Opportunities
St. Paul Park is still listing openings on two volunteer city commissions. If you’re a resident and are interested in the areas of public safety or parks and recreation, please click here for more information. This is a great chance for engaged citizens to get involved at the local level.
Please Contact Me
As always, feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email if I can help you with anything. I always enjoy talking to local residents, and hope you’ll find a time to say hello.
Have a great weekend,
Keith