Budget Forecast Shows Looming Deficit + More!

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March 1, 2024

Executive Summary

• Presidential Primary is next Tuesday, March 5^th!

• Budget Forecast Shows Looming Deficit

• Bill Introductions

• First Bill Hearing

Presidential Primary is next Tuesday, March 5^th!

Don't forget that this Tuesday, March 5, is the Presidential Primary! You can find your polling location here. 

Budget Forecast Shows Looming Deficit

Yesterday, Minnesota Management and Budget released the February Forecast, which will be used to guide any budget and bonding decisions in the Legislature this year.

The forecast showed a $3.7 billion surplus in the current biennium, but a $1.5 billion deficit beginning in 2026. The projected deficit assumes that none of the $3.7 billion surplus will be spent, meaning that any new spending bills passed in 2024 will further increase the deficit.

The budget forecast verifies what we were saying all last session: The DFL Majority’s reckless spending was unsustainable and has set us up for future deficits.

Minnesota is on the wrong path under one-party control. Democrats spent a $17.5 billion surplus in 2023 and grew state government by 38% over two years. This out-of-control spending has resulted in deficits, despite Democrats raising taxes by $10 billion last year.

Minnesota families and seniors cannot afford more tax hikes to pay off deficits. I will continue to fight for fiscal responsibility in St. Paul and protect Minnesotans’ hard-earned tax dollars.

Bill Introductions

This week, I introduced two more bills:

HF 4364:

This bill would limit the amount of debt the state can issue. Under the bill, the amount of new debt service can be no more than 3% of the estimated non-dedicated general fund revenue received by the state.

This proposal would also establish a new debt service limit on Appropriation Bonds, including Certificates of Participation, which is a little-used debt instrument the DFL Majority used to fund the $730 “Palace for Politicians.” This was used to get around the normal three-fifths “Super Majority” vote usually required for bonding bills.

In researching this bill, I was surprised to learn there is currently no statutory debt limit. Instead, the state simply follows an MMB “guideline policy” that the borrowed principal outstanding cannot exceed 3.25% of state personal income and that principal outstanding and authorized but unissued debt may not exceed 6% of state personal income.

HF 4433:

Greenfield Road improvements funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. This bill will fully fund the remaining amount to complete the paving of Greenfield Road.

First Bill Hearing

My bill, HF 3654, received a hearing in the Senate Human Services Committee this week. Senator Karin Housley is carrying the bill in the other Chamber where it is SF 4191.

This bill will require assisted living facilities to provide documentation on correction orders for residents or family members who requests the information. This bill idea was brought to me by a constituent whose father lives in an assisted living facility outside of our district. Although several “correction orders” had been issued by the MN Dept. of Health, she was never given information on when/if the issue had been corrected. This was unnecessarily frustrating as the facility was required to document how they complied with the correction orders – they just were not required to share that information with the resident or the family.

This common sense bill has broad bipartisan support and will ease the stress of family members without over-burdening facilities with additional paperwork requirements. I hope this bill will receive a hearing in the House soon!

Photos

Love starting the day talking to amazing students from Rockford FFA & Buffalo FFA who visited the Capitol! They are working hard to prepare for the upcoming State competition and all are planning to go into ag-related fields! Minnesota’s economy depends on growth & innovation in the Ag sector and these young leaders are ready to take on the challenge! 🎉

Thanks to Anna from Heidi's GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens for stopping by to talk about about the many mandates/taxes/record-keeping required for small businesses in the landscaping & nursery industries. The micromanagement of small businesses is out of control & I look forward to bipartisan work to address their concerns!

Congratulations to our friend & colleague, Representative Bjorn Olson, who was promoted to Major in the U.S. Army Reserve yesterday! We are proud to serve with you! 🎉🇺🇸

Please Contact Me

Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance.

The best way to reach me is by email: rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn.gov. For occasional updates, you can follow my Facebook Page at @RepKristinRobbins. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked every weekday while we are in session.

Of course, if you are coming to the Capitol, I’d love to meet you! Please reach out if you would like to set-up an in-person meeting. 

Have a great weekend!

Kristin

239 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806