Historic tax relief, transportation funding increase are signature accomplishments of 2017
ST. PAUL – Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, is hailing $650 million in tax relief and significantly more funding for transportation as the top accomplishments of the 2017 Legislature, which completed its budget work and adjourned early Friday morning.
“The $650 million in tax relief we provided and $300 million increase for transportation over the next two years – without raising taxes – leap off the page in terms of our major accomplishments this year,” Anderson said. “The state has not seen results like this in decades and I am proud of the work we did this year.”
The Minnesota House and Senate concluded a brief special session by passing the final bills that comprise the state’s 2018-19 budget. In all, the Legislature passed seven bills during special session: taxes, transportation, state government, health and human services, K-12 education, capital investment and labor standards.
The Republican-led tax bill will mean more than $650 million in tax relief – the largest tax cut in nearly two decades – for Minnesota families in the 2018-19 biennium and roughly $750 million in tax relief in 2020-21. The package includes relief for seniors on social security, college graduates with student loan debt, and property tax relief for farmers and Minnesota businesses.
“I am especially pleased about the reduction on Social Security taxes because it will really make a difference for our seniors, particularly those on fixed incomes,” Anderson said. “Minnesotans deserve some tax relief and it is good that we delivered.”
In addition, Republicans championed and the Legislature approved the largest investment in road and bridge infrastructure in state history, billions over the next decade without an increase in the gas tax or license tab fees.
In all, the Legislature sent 10 budget bills, a $995 million bonding bill and a labor standards bill to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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