Today the Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) office released the February budget forecast, showing an updated $6 billion deficit, which is nearly $1 billion more than was projected in the November forecast. The short-term surplus has also been reduced from $616 million to $456 million. These forecast numbers do not account for any new spending in the current legislative year. 

Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) released the following statement in response:

“Today’s budget forecast is proof that the current Walz administration is unable to create a responsible state budget. Between November and now, the deficit has grown to $6 billion and Minnesotans demand that we fix it. We must adjust our spending to our revenue, that is how Minnesotans want our State to balance the budget. Spending has outpaced income by 2 to 1.

“We need to step up for families in our state, and that means getting our budget under control and making life more affordable. Minnesota families should not be forced to bear the financial burden of runaway spending by this Administration. We can do better.”

Democrats have grown Minnesota government from a $39 billion general fund budget in 2014 to $71 billion in 2024, and Minnesota is already ranked the 46th worst state when it comes to local tax burdens.