Minnesota House follows middle class tax cuts with focus on critical investments in education, job creation, and care for seniors
Saint Paul, Minnesota – Continuing an unprecedented legislative pace, after passing tax cuts for more than one million Minnesotans, the House passed their supplemental budget bill late Thursday night with a vote of 70-59.
Minnesota’s growing economy and balanced budget passed in 2013 created a $1.2 billion budget surplus. The legislature has moved quickly to utilize about half of that surplus already, approving $443 million in tax cuts and directing $150 million to bolster the state’s budget reserve.
The Minnesota House built on the legislative accomplishments of this session with a supplemental budget that uses $322 million of the state budget surplus. These funds will be used to prioritize the needs of middle class families, students and seniors. Highlights of the supplemental budget include:
ü Statewide investments to strengthen Greater Minnesota through broadband investments and economic development resources.
ü Education investments that build on the 2013 “education session” and increase the K-12 funding formula by $54 million
ü Funding increase of 5% for home and community based health care workers who provide care for the elderly and disabled.
ü Critical transportation funding to repair potholes and make investments in highways, roads and bridges.
Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL- Faribault) said the bill would have a number of positive impacts on the recovering Minnesota economy.
“I’ve been fighting to get home and community-based caregivers a raise ever since they were cut, and I was proud to vote for them today, because they’re always there for us,” said Rep. Fritz “Another good thing about this bill is the focus we put on getting people back to work with investments in job training centers and helping small businesses in Greater Minnesota through money put toward Initiative Foundations. I’m also grateful to my colleagues for adopting the measures I proposed to protect the sanctity of life.”
House DFL Supplemental Budget
Job Creation: Bonding and Jobs and Economic Development - $170
· Provide debt-service for $850 million in GO bonds for a bonding bill that improves infrastructure and creates jobs throughout the state and boost bonding bill with $125 million for additional critical statewide investments.
· Build a Greater Minnesota through targeted investments that address economic challenges confronting Greater Minnesota:
o Invest $25 million in broadband access in Greater Minnesota.
o Provide $10 million in economic development resources to support rural job growth and the business sectors critical to rural economies.
Seniors & Caregivers - $91 million
· Provide an additional 5 percent increase for home and community-based health care workers who provide care for the elderly and disabled.
· Increase funding for rural nursing homes and provide additional investments in senior nutrition.
Education - $92 million
· Provide a funding increase for K-12 schools to help address the costs of teacher evaluations and to further improve education outcomes.
· Provide more Minnesota children with access to affordable, high-quality early learning opportunities.
· Fully fund reduced price for school lunches to ensure no Minnesota child is turned away in the lunch line (passed off House floor).
· Invest in our higher education institutions to improve students’ access to an affordable college education.
Transportation - $50 million
· Provide $15 million to help local governments throughout the state address the need to repair potholes after the worst winter in recent memory.
· Build on progress last session with further investment in “Corridors of Commerce” funding for statewide highway repairs.
Rep. Fritz was optimistic about the bill’s strong support for education.
“My community has shown strong support for our school kids, and that’s every community’s goal. I was pleased to see us put another $54 million into the K-12 formula and specifically target the achievement disparities that are holding some kids back,” said Rep. Fritz. “The state’s strong support for schools can help each community develop their own unique tools for addressing the problems they face.”
Rep. Fritz encourages constituents to contact her with any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas on any legislative topic. She can be reached by phone at 651-296-4929 or by email at rep.patti.fritz@house.mn.
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