Go to Minnesota's budget

Minnesota's budget

Minnesota Public Radio coverage of the Minnesota budget negotiations.
  • Low-income residents worry about possible shutdown
    It's still not clear what all the effects would be from a state government shutdown. But the looming budget crisis has many low-income residents worried about paying next month's bills.June 20, 2011
  • Dayton calls GOP budget offer 'extremely disappointing'
    Republicans in the Minnesota House and Senate are offering to drop their proposal to cut taxes if Gov. Mark Dayton drops his proposal to raise them.June 16, 2011
  • Dayton outlines services he wants protected in shutdown
    The governor filed a petition today outlining the government functions that he views as essential, including prisons, emergency highway repair and programs for the poor, elderly and disabled.June 15, 2011
  • Minn. Human Services warns clients of gov't shutdown
    The state Department of Human Services is notifying hundreds of thousands of clients that they might lose access to health care assistance and other services if Minnesota government shuts down on July 1.June 14, 2011
  • Courts' role in deciding state spending is questioned
    A Ramsey County judge will decide whether Minnesota should continue funding essential services if state government shuts down on July 1. Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a petition asking a judge for authority to continue funding some services. But some lawmakers question the courts' role in funding state services.June 14, 2011
  • Public schools anxious over possible government shutdown
    Employees of Minnesota's public schools are not state workers, but their salaries and other school expenses rely on money that districts get from the state. So, one question surrounding a possible government shutdown is whether public schools in Minnesota would continue to receive state payments. Without any definitive ruling on the question yet, school leaders are drawing up contingency plans.June 13, 2011
  • Dayton administration continues preparations for shutdown
    Layoff notices started to arrive at the homes of state workers who may be losing their jobs if no budget agreement can be reach.June 10, 2011
  • GOP offer to increase K-12 not paired with more revenue
    Republicans were willing to increase spending on K-12, courts and public safety but say they won't budge on total tab of $34 billion.June 6, 2011
  • Republicans make concessions on spending in budget talks
    They say they're willing to spend more money on K12 schools, public safety and the courts, but they don't want to increase the size of their overall budget. That means Republicans would be forced to make cuts in other areas.June 6, 2011
  • No budget deal could result in the state's largest layoff
    State government is the largest single employer in Minnesota with about 35,000 employees working for various state agencies under the executive branch, some 4,000 people working in state courts and higher education and tens of thousands more in higher education.June 3, 2011
  • Dayton says no to GOP budget panel, wants mediator
    Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton wants to hire an outside mediator to help break his budget impasse with Republican lawmakers over the state's budget. But his proposal was rejected Thursday by GOP legislative leaders. The two sides had nothing to show for another day of lobbing criticism at each other.June 2, 2011
  • A frosty, but civil, town hall for Rep. Keith Downey
    The Republican lawmaker faced a roomful of public employees who could soon be out of work if lawmakers can't reach an agreement on erasing a projected $5 billion deficit and who were already angry over his efforts to cut the state workforce by 15 percent.June 2, 2011
  • Dayton, GOP numbers on budget solutions don't line up
    Experts say Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton are using different numbers to make their case for their respective budget shortfall solutions to the public. They say neither side is wrong as long as they don't mix figures.June 2, 2011
  • Sen. Pappas, Rep. Daudt offer end-of-session perspectives
    MPR's All Things Considered followed veteran DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas of St. Paul and freshman GOP Rep. Kurt Daudt of Crown throughout the 2011 legislative session. The session has ended without a budget deal, and Pappas and Daudt spoke to MPR's Tom Crann to reflect on the session.June 1, 2011
  • State starts sending out layoff notices
    As many as 36,000 state employees will get the notices as the government starts to prepare for a possible July 1 shutdown.May 31, 2011
Photo by AFP/Getty Images

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