NOTE: Deep in this article, there’s something important to remember. “…after population increases and inflation are factored in, per capita state spending is slightly less now than it was in 2003…”. Gov. Mark Dayton led the state’s economic recovery, repaid the schools, built a surplus, and held total spending to Pawlenty-era levels. Pretty darn good, we’d say. (And, nothing Republicans seem willing to acknowledge in any way, shape or form about any Democratic effort.)
The following article by Patrick Coolican was posted on the Star Tribune website June 10, 2017:
Mark Dayton, a second-term DFL governor not running for re-election, largely sealed his ambitious budget legacy in May when he signed his final two-year budget.
The year Gov. Mark Dayton took office, the state budget was $15.3 billion. The year he leaves, it is projected to be $23 billion — a 50 percent increase.
Dayton, a second-term DFL governor not running for re-election, largely sealed his ambitious budget legacy in May when he signed his final two-year budget that funds schools, health and human services, parks and other state programs.
“We’ve restored fiscal integrity and stability to the Minnesota budget,” Dayton said in an interview Friday. Continue reading “Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget legacy secure: Surpluses and more spending”