On Monday, Senate Republicans released a letter to Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) Commissioner Myron Frans asking him to keep his promise to conduct an August budget forecast. The effects of the coronavirus on the state’s economy have already been tentatively projected to be a nearly $5 billion deficit in FY 2022-23.  

“We are requesting that you honor your commitment to prepare an August Forecast this year,” the letter states. “Without this information, we will be working off the outdated and incomplete information that was provided at the May Budget Projection.” 

Last week, MMB released a rough projection using data from April that showed a $4.7 billion-dollar deficit to the state’s $48 billion budget.

“As a result of COVID-19 and the subsequent executive actions taken by Governor Walz’s administration Minnesota faces a dire financial picture going into the next biennium by going from a 1.5 billion dollar surplus to a project 5 billion dollar deficit,” said Senate Finance Vice-Chair Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria). “As a result, Minnesota will face a brutal reality of our financial picture and will need to be prepared to make tough choices as we head into the new year. I am joining my Senate colleagues in demanding that Commissioner Frans provide an accurate and complete forecast in August, and not wait until the November forecast. Minnesotans deserve to get our state’s true financial picture, and they should expect this administration and legislature to be prepared with solutions before session resumes.”