Senate DFL Release Budget Targets

Senate DFL Caucus Leaders released their 2016 supplemental budget targets at a press conference on Wednesday, April 13. Their proposed supplemental spending totals $789.2 million dollars, leaving $111 million dollars in reserve of the $900 million dollar projected surplus. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said the remaining dollars may be used for debt service, one-time spending and projects ineligible for financing through the sale of bonds.

The highest priorities for the DFL caucus are $300 million dollars in tax relief; $91 million dollars for racial and economic disparity; $85 million dollars for rural broadband expansion; and $60 million dollars for natural resources, economic development and agriculture.

In addition to dollars already budgeted for E-12 and higher education, the DFL caucus proposed an additional $48.2 million dollars in E-12 spending for a pre-kindergarten expansion, additional counseling and support staff, and other initiatives to help ease the teacher shortage. An additional $47.7 million is allotted for higher education.

Bonding and transportation packages are not listed in the targets.

Senate Minority Leader David Hann issued a statement following the DFL press conference: “This spending proposal is reckless and unsustainable. Yesterday we heard Minnesota income tax revenues are falling $70 million behind forecast and the economy is slowing down. Today the Senate DFL answers with $800 million in new spending, eating up the entire budget surplus…”