Go to Minnesota's budget shortfall

Minnesota's budget shortfall

Coverage of the debate over Minnesota's $4.6 billion state budget shortfall.
  • Three plans to balance the state budget; will any of them work?
    Key lawmakers of both parties debate the merits of the new tax and spending proposals from Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the Senate DFL and the House DFL.Midday, March 20, 2009
  • House budget plan increases taxes, cuts spending
    Democrats in the Minnesota House have released a proposal to erase the state's projected $4.6 billion deficit with a combination of spending cuts, accounting shifts, tax increases and a big shot of one-time federal stimulus money.March 19, 2009
  • DFLers suggest sales tax on Internet sales, music downloads
    The chair of the state Senate Taxes Committee says he's looking at a wide range of revenue options to help balance the state budget. Among them are raising income tax rates to 1990 levels, as well as taxing Internet sales and music downloads.March 18, 2009
  • Senators respond to Pawlenty's new budget proposal
    Using federal stimulus funds, Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposes a further increase for K-12 schools and restores cuts made to colleges and universities -- but also cuts spending on health care. Two state senators react the the proposal.Midday, March 18, 2009
  • Pawlenty uses stimulus money to reverse budget cuts
    Gov. Tim Pawlenty's revised budget proposal uses money from the federal stimulus package to restore funding to some programs that were cut in his earlier budget.March 17, 2009
  • Pawlenty's budget forecast assumes property tax hikes
    Gov. Pawlenty is scheduled to release his revised budget plan this afternoon to address the state's projected $4.6 billion deficit. While he insists he won't approve a tax increase, the budget forecast assumes that local governments will raise property taxes.March 17, 2009
  • New tax plan up for discussion at the Capitol
    A new revenue plan is on the table at the State Capitol. The chair of the House Taxes Committee introduced a wide-ranging bill today that would raise some taxes and cut others.March 16, 2009
  • Committee approves list of outdoors projects
    A citizens' group today approved a list of projects to fund with new sales tax money earmarked for environmental projects.March 16, 2009
  • Senate DFLers propose $1 billion in education cuts
    Senate DFLers are proposing nearly $1 billion in cuts to public education funding as part of their budget deficit reduction plan.March 12, 2009
  • Local officials want more control, fewer orders from the state
    With the state facing a $4.6 billion budget deficit, officials say it's inevitable that cities and counties will see some cuts in funding. In exchange, local officials want fewer mandates from the state telling them what they need to do.March 11, 2009
  • Unions push back on Pawlenty's call for pay freeze
    Gov. Tim Pawlenty has repeatedly urged public employees at all levels of government to accept a salary freeze as a way to avoid layoffs. But union leaders say that's an unrealistic promise.March 11, 2009
  • Minn. bill would remove property tax cap
    A key Minnesota Senate panel has voted to undo a property tax relief plan, a cap on local property tax levies, that helped seal last year's budget deal.March 10, 2009
  • Tax talk heating up at the state Capitol
    A bill introduced today would expand the state sales tax to clothing. And a new report on the state's tax system is expected to add fuel to the idea of raising taxes as part of budget fix.March 9, 2009
  • Twin Cities mayors worry about their budgets
    Federal stimulus money may help take the sting away from the loss of state money. The mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis talk about balancing budgets and dealing with a flagging economy.Midmorning, March 9, 2009
  • Budget cuts may hit rural seniors harder
    In just a couple of decades, nearly 30 percent of the population in some Minnesota counties will be people over 65. Local officials worry about how to reach out to a rural, sometimes isolated population.March 5, 2009
Photo by AFP/Getty Images

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