$1.35 billion in tax relief, new road & bridge funding highlight responsible budget “the Minnesota way”
ST. PAUL – House Republicans announced their budget targets Monday, headlined by $1.35 billion in tax relief for Minnesota families, $450 million in new funding for road and bridge infrastructure, and an overall budget target that ensures a sustainable level of state spending for the next biennium.
“With a substantial state surplus, our first priority was to return money to the hardworking taxpayers who helped fund it,” said. Rep. Deb Kiel, R-Crookston. “In addition, we’re putting more money into our schools, funding transportation infrastructure improvements and limiting government growth. House Republicans’ budget proposal puts the people of our state first and respects taxpayers.”
House Republicans stated their goal to approach budgeting “The Minnesota Way.” In addition to major tax relief and new road and bridge infrastructure spending, House Republicans are proposing $1.1 billion in new funding for K-12 schools compared to the 2016-2017 biennium.
“Just like folks across our state, we’re budgeting ‘the Minnesota Way,’ which means we are identifying and funding our shared priorities just like Minnesota families do each and every day,” said Rep. Dan Fabian, R-Roseau. “For our state, that means improving our roads and bridges, lowering health care costs, and providing much-needed tax relief for folks in Northwest Minnesota and across the state.”
The overall House Republican budget target limits government spending more than the two proposals put forward by the Governor and the Senate. The budget resolution, containing the targets, will be adopted this week by the House Ways and Means Committee and will serve as the framework for Finance Committees as they construct their budgets.