Senate Republicans this week introduced alternate budget targets that invest in infrastructure and provide needed tax relief to Minnesotans. The proposal shifts a cash bonding target to a general obligation bond target, which frees up $1.9 billion to invest in other areas. This shift delivers tax relief, a bonding bill that invests in infrastructure, and support to Minnesotans struggling to find long-term care.

“Tax relief is the number one priority for families across the state, and Senate Republicans have put forward an alternate proposal that strikes a balance between tax relief and funding our state’s infrastructure needs,” said Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville). “With a historic surplus, there’s no reason we can’t provide the full elimination of the tax on social security, funding for agriculture, and additional support for the long-term care industry.”

Senate Republican Leaders have previously made clear that there needed to be movement on tax relief before a bonding bill would be passed. Senate Democrats still moved forward with their bonding bill, which failed on the floor. Democrat Budget Targets were then released, amounting to $17.9 billion in additional spending with no plan for tax relief.

Senate Republicans’ proposal allows for investment in several key priorities:

• An increase in bonding funding, to be used on local roads and bridges
• An increase in the Human Services budget, to provide additional support to long-term care facilities
• An increase in the agriculture budget for needed investments in a green fertilizer program and a soil health program
• An additional $1.145 billion to the tax target, to provide a full elimination of the tax on social security