January 2013: Minnesota faced a $1.1 billion budget shortfall, the state was not raising revenues needed to fund its priorities and the tax system was increasingly unfair.
May 2013: Policymakers agreed to a budget that will eliminate the budget shortfall, make the tax system fairer and once again invest in Minnesota's economic success.
Our latest issue brief examines how that turnaround happened.
Budget Choices in the 2013 Legislative Session Take Minnesota in a Better Direction credits budget decisions made in the 2013 Legislative Session with putting the state back on track.
According to our analysis, the state budget that goes into effect July 1 raises adequate revenues to address the deficit without deep cuts to services; makes the tax system fairer; and invests in schools, affordable college education, health care, workforce development and other public services that are crucial for a strong future.
By increasing the use of an income tax based on the ability to pay and reducing what low- and middle-income Minnesotans pay in property taxes, the budget makes significant progress toward tax fairness.
Our analysis examines details of those decisions, focusing on new investments and changes that affect low-income and vulnerable Minnesotans.