Dear Neighbors,
Minnesota Management and Budget just released the most recent state budget forecast, which included a projected budget surplus of just under $1.9 billion. This marks the second consecutive year of big budget surpluses following the DFL’s responsibly balanced budget of 2013, when we paid back the school shift and focused on initiatives that would help the middle class. After $665 million of the projected surplus is saved into Minnesota’s rainy day account, as required by law, the legislature will be left with $1.206 billion to allocate.
Lawmakers entered this year's session with a similarly sized $2 billion surplus, but the House GOP, Senate DFL and Governor couldn’t come to an agreement on how to spend the money. I was disappointed that Minnesota families weren’t more of a priority, and as a result many are left to deal with increased property taxes, higher tuition, and higher healthcare costs.
I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join me and seek a balanced approach to allocating the surplus this time around. We need to make sure we save for the future, make crucial investments in the vital services such as education and transportation, and targeted tax breaks that will benefit middle class taxpayers, homeowners, renters, and small businesses.
Far too often the people who are just getting by, who would benefit so much from small programs that provide more opportunities, are overlooked by the legislature. I’m committed making sure that we focus on our neighbors. We must invest more in education and proven programs that help the next generation get a better start than ours. We must secure a bonding bill that will build and rebuild vital infrastructure in our area while providing good paying jobs in our community. We need a long term transportation and transit package so people can get to the grocery store, the doctor and to and from work. Too often people look at the problems that have faced our community for decades and decide they’re too overwhelming and entrenched to deal with. I’m dedicated to making sure those of us who want to make things better are heard.
We cannot repeat the same mistakes of the last year. It's time for us to put the interests of the people of Minnesotan first. With another large surplus to work with, the legislature can and should do better this year.
I would love to hear your ideas about our budget surplus and our agenda for the upcoming session.
As always, feel free to contact me with any thoughts or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Sheldon