Lieske statement looming $6 billion Democrat budget deficit

The office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) today released its annual February economic forecast. The report, which details the state’s budget picture, projects a surplus of $456 million. But the most concerning aspect of the report is the massive budget deficit on the horizon – $6 billion for Fiscal Year 2028-2029.

Senator Bill Lieske (R-Lonsdale) issued the following statement:

“Make no mistake: Democrats own this deficit. When they had total control of state government, they spent every dime of our record $19 billion surplus, raised almost $10 billion in taxes, and increased state spending by 40% — it was reckless management, and now we are facing a looming budget that is $6 billion in the red. We cannot continue on this path. We were sent here to make the difficult choices. That means reining in unsustainable spending, stopping the waste and fraud, and making sure taxpayers aren’t treated like a bottomless piggy bank for legislators’ pet projects. Enough is enough.”

In the past decade, Minnesota’s government budget has nearly doubled from a $39 billion general fund budget in 2014 to $71 billion in 2024. The state now has some of the highest individual taxes and the 46th worst state and local tax burden in the nation.

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