St. Paul, Minn. – Today, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton released his 2016 Supplemental Budget proposal to the Legislature. His budget has been revised in light of the February Economic Forecast which projected a budget surplus of $900 million. Rep. Jennifer Schultz (DFL – Duluth) shared the following statement in response:
“I applaud Gov. Dayton for his budget proposal which makes the necessary investments to allow our economy to work for all Minnesotans, while responsibly maintaining our state’s fiscal health and planning for the future. His State of the State Address last week outlined many of the priorities we ought to take on this session, and I’m pleased to see them included in this proposal.
“Specifically, I am pleased by the Governor’s targeted tax relief to Minnesota families. His proposal expands eligibility for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to 92,000 new families, makes 24,000 new taxpayers eligible for the Working Family Tax Credit, and gives a significant one-time boost to Local Government Aid and County Program Aid, which will help lower property taxes.
“I thank Gov. Dayton for his bold increases in funding for mental health services in several areas of the budget, including at state hospitals, in the criminal justice system, and in our schools, plus an increase for mental health providers who give services to Minnesotans enrolled in public health programs. I want to also thank him for calling for a $100 per month increase to those receiving aid from the Minnesota Family Investment Program. This program lends a helping hand to the poorest families in the state, and this amount hasn't been increased since 1986.
“This budget is crafted responsibly with an outlook to the future. I retain hope that we will be able to come together as policymakers this session to give our kids, families, and communities the tools they need succeed in our economy.”