The Legislature wrapped up the 2013-2014 session on May 16, finishing our work early for the first time in a decade. It marked the end of a very productive two years in the House.
When we came to the Capitol in January of 2013, the state was facing a budget deficit of over $600 million and we still owed our schools more than $800 million. After passing a structurally balanced budget in 2013, we returned in 2014 with a budget surplus of $1.2 billion and an economy that was continuing to improve. Then, we got back to work and continued making progress by investing in education, cutting taxes, and investing in local infrastructure projects around the state.
In last year’s budget, the schools in the Burnsville/Eagan area received more than $25 million in new state money, including funding for all day every day kindergarten. We prioritized students at both ends of the spectrum by investing in early education scholarships and freezing tuition at state colleges and universities.
This session, we cut taxes for 2 million Minnesotans and boosted direct property tax relief for homeowners, renters, farmers, and businesses. We passed a bonding bill that invests in roads, bridges, schools, and communities. Those projects will put people to work in the short term while preserving long term assets; a true win-win for Minnesotans.
Over the last two years, we have fought hard for middle class Minnesotans. And while we have made some significant progress, we know there is more work to be done. We need to do more to address the substantial debt being taken on by our college graduates. We need to invest more heavily in early education so all students have a chance to succeed once they enter kindergarten.
It’s been an honor to serve as your State Representative over the past two years. Please feel free to contact me with any ideas or questions you might have about the work we’ve done at the Capitol this past session.
Sincerely,
Sandra Masin
State Representative, District 51A