Minnesota has a projected 329-million-dollar budget surplus according to the latest economic forecast just released — not as much as lawmakers were hoping for, but a turnaround from the 188-million-dollar deficit that was forecast last November. There will likely be a push for more education spending and possibly expanding pre-K. House Democratic Minority Leader Melissa Hortman says, “We know that education is the economic engine in the state of Minnesota, and we should be investing there.”
Expanding broadband could be in the mix, cities and counties will push for more state aid, and Governor Dayton says improving school security is a top priority. But what drives a lot is how lawmakers respond to what Congress and the president did in changing federal taxes, and will Minnesota’s tax code be updated, for individuals and/or businesses. Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says, “We do have an opportunity with the federal tax laws changing of doing more conformity.”