Minnesota's Budget Crisis | Minnesota Public Radio News

Minn. House passes K-12 finance bill

The Minnesota House passed a K-12 finance bill that would increase funding by $485 million for all-day kindergarten, special education, early childhood education and the classroom. (05/19/2013)

Minn. lawmakers take budget debate down to wire

The final pieces of Minnesota's next two-year, $38 billion budget were falling into place Sunday as state lawmakers clocked long hours and held a succession of late-night debates at the Capitol. By late afternoon, lawmakers had sent six of nine major budget bills to Gov. Mark Dayton. (05/19/2013)

Minn. House defeats construction projects bill

Republicans in the Minnesota House have blocked an $800 million package of public construction projects from moving forward this year, including the next phase of renovation work on the State Capitol. (05/17/2013)

Minnesota budget deal: Higher taxes for top earners, smokers

Minnesota would have the fourth highest income tax rate in the nation under a deal reached by Gov. Mark Dayton and DFL legislative leaders. (05/17/2013)

With clock ticking, big differences remain in Capitol budget bills

Significant differences remain in the tax bill, and DFL leaders appear willing to throw in the towel on a minimum wage increase. (05/16/2013)

Minn. taxes on way up, but details still up for debate

Minnesota taxes will rise by more than $2 billion in the next two-year state budget, but who pays how much on what is still being hammered out as the Legislature speeds toward a Monday deadline for the session's adjournment. Here's a look at what is known and what is left to be decided on the tax plan. (05/15/2013)

Dayton, DFL leaders agree on budget targets

Gov. Mark Dayton and the Legislature's top Democrats have reached a budget deal that includes income tax increases on wealthier Minnesotans and a cigarette tax increase, and aims to provide property tax relief. (05/12/2013)

Minn. April tax haul up by $153M

Minnesota's tax haul for April was $153 million better than forecasters had expected, a strong month that probably has little effect on the trajectory of legislative budget talks. (05/10/2013)

Lawmaker pay raise rests with committee

A pay raise plan for Minnesota elected officials is a key point of difference as a House-Senate panel begins negotiations on a state agency budget bill. (05/02/2013)

Dayton opens the door to alcohol tax

Gov. Mark Dayton has opened the door to supporting an increase in the alcohol tax. (05/01/2013)

Senate to vote on clothing, income tax

The Senate convenes Monday afternoon to take up its tax bill. In addition to a new clothing tax, it raises income taxes on the state's highest earners. (04/29/2013)

Minn. Senate passes funding for all-day K

The State Senate passed a two-year, $15.7 billion education finance bill Thursday on a 35 to 28 vote that includes full funding for all-day kindergarten in every district. (04/25/2013)

Bars, brewers blast booze tax proposal in Minn.

A bill passed by the Minnesota House that would increase taxes on alcohol has the hospitality and alcoholic beverage industries in an uproar. Summit Brewing's Mark Stutrud says taxation could "eliminate our existence." (04/25/2013)

Bonding bill's prospects take a hit in Minn. Senate

Prospects for a bonding bill dimmed Wednesday, when Democrats in the Minnesota Senate added a cash allocation to their tax bill for one of the session's key bonding project proposals -- the renovation of the State Capitol Building. (04/24/2013)

Minn. House to vote on tax hike bill