Minnesota’s budget forecast is out, and it is not good news. While we’re looking at a modest $616 million surplus for the 2026-2027 budget cycle, the future looks much worse. In just a few years, we’re staring down a $5.1 billion deficit for 2028-2029.
How did this happen? Two years ago, Minnesota had a historic $19 billion surplus. Today, it’s gone. The Democrats, in full control of government, passed a record-setting $72 billion budget — a 40% increase from the previous cycle. To pay for it, they not only spent virtually the entire surplus, but they also raised taxes by $10 billion on every Minnesotan. Now we’re on track for a massive shortfall.
Let’s break this down. In the past decade, Minnesota’s government spending has nearly doubled, jumping from $39 billion in 2014 to $71 billion in 2024. Have your family’s expenses doubled? Has your income? For most Minnesotans, the answer is no. Families are already struggling with rising costs for groceries, housing, and just about everything else. Meanwhile, the government seems to think your wallet is a bottomless pit.
Minnesota now has some of the highest taxes in the country. We’re ranked 46th for state and local tax burdens and are in the top 10 for individual tax rates. Despite these huge tax increases, the state is spending more than it takes in. It’s like trying to fill a leaky bucket—the money keeps disappearing, but the spending keeps growing.
This just is not sustainable. The forecast makes it clear: unless we change direction, Minnesotans will face even higher taxes to cover reckless spending. That’s not fair to families who are already doing everything they can to make ends meet.
The first step is cutting out waste and fraud. We’ve seen too many examples of taxpayer money being mismanaged. Programs like Feeding Our Future, where hundreds of millions of dollars were wasted, show just how badly this needs to be fixed. Cleaning this up won’t solve everything, but it’s a start.
Second, we need to slow down government growth. Families budget based on what they can afford. Why can’t the state do the same? Spending should match what’s coming in—not the other way around.
Finally, we need to focus on making life more affordable for Minnesotans. That means lowering taxes and cutting unnecessary fees. Every dollar we leave in your pocket is a dollar you can spend on your family.
Minnesota’s constitution requires a balanced budget, so we’ll have to make some tough choices in the next legislative session. But those choices should put families first, not government spending.
I’ll keep working to get our budget back on track. This isn’t just about avoiding a deficit, it is about respecting the hard work of every Minnesotan. The state shouldn’t be treating you like an ATM.
We can fix this, but only if we’re willing to change course. It’s time to stop the runaway spending and start putting Minnesotans first.