Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Paul Anderson (R)

Back to profile

Economic update; resources for heating assistance

Friday, February 28, 2014

Dear Neighbor,

 

We are wrapping up Week 1 of the 2014 legislative session. Maybe the biggest news of the week was the economic forecast we received today, indicating a state budget surplus of $1.23 billion.

 

Here are a few sentences from Minnesota Management & Budget to summarize:

 

“The February budget and economic forecast shows a positive balance of $1.233 billion for fiscal years 2014-2015. This is an  improvement of $408 million from the November budget forecast. Since November, revenue projects have increased by $366 million and spending projections have decreased by $48 million. Other adjustments account for the difference. The 2016-17 structural balance is projected to be $2.599 billion for 2016-2017.”

 

This is welcome news, continuing a string forecasts showing revenue above projections dating back to 2011. That was the year we had to deal with a $5 billion shortfall and we have been seeing incremental improvement ever since we enacted that budget.

 

The challenge now will be in deciding how to use the surplus funds. Personally, I don't see this as a license to spend more on government growth. The right thing to do would be to give Minnesota taxpayers a break by eliminating some of the new taxes that went on the books last year (namely equipment repair, warehousing and telecommunications).

 

HEATING ASSISTANCE INFO

I mentioned in an email update earlier this week that we in the House passed $20 million in additional heating assistance to help ease the pain of an ongoing propane supply shortage. People in our area are struggling and I continue receiving inquiries as to how they can obtain financial assistance for unaffordable heating bills. Below is some information I sent a few weeks ago that bears repeating. Please pass it along to anyone you think could use it.

 

  • How to Apply for Heating Assistance

Qualifying households must apply for assistance at the local service provider in their area. Minnesota has 32 local service providers statewide. A list of local service providers and guidance for how to apply for assistance is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce website or by calling (800) 657-3710.  Eligibility guidelines can be found here.

  • Propane Shortage Hotline

Last week, the State of Minnesota established a toll-free hotline that Minnesotans affected by the propane shortage can use to ask questions or seek assistance in this time of emergency. As of this morning, that hotline has received over 1,750 calls from Minnesota citizens in need of assistance to find and afford the propane needed to heat their homes, businesses, and farms. Minnesotans with questions about the current propane situation or who are in danger of running out of heating fuel should call (800) 657-3504 in Greater Minnesota or (651) 297-1304 in the Twin Cities. The hotline operates daily between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

 

The best remedy for this situation would be warmer weather but, unfortunately, the forecast indicates Mother Nature is going to keep us in below-average temps a bit longer. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that an abbreviated spring does not cause flooding problems.

 

Sincerely,

Paul