ST. PAUL — State Representative Dave Baker, R-Willmar, issued the following statement on the November Budget and Economic Forecast released today showing a looming budget deficit in the 2026-2027 biennium.
“Today’s report shows the consequences of one-party control in St. Paul and illustrates the unsustainability of Democrats’ tax and spend agenda,” said Baker. “We began the year with an $18 billion budget surplus. Instead of providing the tax relief that Minnesotans deserved to help soften the impacts of historic levels of inflation, Democrats went on a spending spree—growing the state budget by nearly 40% and raising taxes by $10 billion including significant taxes on employers and employees. Now, the state is looking at a projected budget deficit in the very near future.
“Minnesota families cannot afford more harmful taxes like the new payroll tax coming in 2026 to pay for a one-size-fits-all government mandated paid leave program that will need to be increased by 30% more than initially thought thanks to poor planning by the Walz Administration. It is way past time to restore fiscal restraint and sanity back to St. Paul.”
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