ST. PAUL – State Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano, issued the following statement in response to new budget estimates released by Minnesota Management and Budget showing the last Republican budget led to a $1.5 billion budget surplus heading in to the 2020-21 biennium. The state’s rainy day fund will receive a $491 million infusion, bringing it to a record high of more than $2 billion. Minnesota also has a significant structural surplus moving forward through the 2022-23 biennium.
“Using the word ‘surplus’ to describe an over-collection of state taxes doesn’t do the taxpayers justice,” said Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano. “These aren’t just dollars that came out of thin air; they came from taxpayers’ pockets and that’s where the money should be returned. Taxpayers should be first in line as the new state budget is set in 2019. I hope the Democrats who now have the majority in the House have the good, common sense not to impose any new taxes, including raising the gas tax. I will remind them often this session that we are, indeed, overcharged and these surplus funds should be used to improve our tax structure to make Minnesota an even better place to live, work, raise a family and run a business.”
In the last biennial budget, Republicans passed the largest tax relief package in nearly two decades, benefiting seniors, college graduates, Main Street businesses, and farmers.
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