Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued for Twin Cities metro area

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Weeks after state officials announced a huge jump in Minnesota’s projected budget surplus, Gov. Mark Dayton Tuesday unveiled how he wants to spend it. Education would see the biggest boost.

On Tuesday, he proposed spending $343 million to fully fund full-day pre-kindergarten for every 4-year-old in Minnesota. He held fast to that plan despite pleas from legislators and others to focus on targeted scholarships. He also called for a $41 million hike in special education funding.

Dayton’s plan is sure to meet resistance from Republicans, who’ve been pushing for more tax relief.

The governor said the state used surpluses to cut taxes 15 years ago, and it proved to be the wrong approach over time.

"Within two years, those surpluses disappeared. It's taken us over a decade to recover from those mistakes," he said. "Furthermore if we 'give it all back,' there's nothing left to invest in Minnesota."

House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, said House Republicans are still working on their plan for how much to spend and how much to cut taxes. He renewed his call for Dayton to drop his push to increase the tax on gasoline to fund road and bridge projects.

"It doesn't necessarily surprise me that the governor wants to spend all of the surplus and then on top of that, it's a bit ironic then, that to pay for his priority he wants to raise another tax," Daudt said.

One area where Daudt said Republicans will spend more money than Dayton is on nursing homes. Dayton is proposing a $25 million increase.  Daudt said Republicans will spend $160 million on nursing homes.

While there will no doubt be budget fights, the overall picture is relatively bright. The forecast from Minnesota Management and Budget released in late February showed the state's previously forecast $1 billion surplus for the next biennium has jumped to nearly $1.9 billion.

Dayton had already proposed spending increases in his January budget request. Tuesday’s proposal was a supplemental package that took into account the new forecast and bigger expected surplus.

Beyond early childhood education, Dayton also proposed more spending in these areas:

With a $183 million budget reserve, Dayton's revised plan leaves only $13 million of the projected surplus unspent.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Tom Scheck

Author

Most of Gov. Mark Dayton’s supplemental budget plan would go to education spending. Dayton released his proposal Tuesday, weeks after state officials announced a huge jump in the state’s projected budget surplus.

Education big winner in Dayton’s updated budget plan

Go Deeper.

Like this?