ST. PAUL—The just-released economic forecast warns that the state budget could have multi-billion-dollar deficits later in the decade due to soaring costs for special education and long-term care for Minnesota’s aging population.
Republicans say lawmakers must consider cuts in all areas of state government. Governor Tim Walz responded, “You could eliminate entire state agencies and not close the looming budget gap for long-term care and special ed. He told Republicans he won’t punish the State Patrol,
Republican Senator Eric Pratt from Prior Lake responded saying focus first and foremost on waste, fraud, and abuse in state government. “The governor and his commissioners have failed to take seriously the recommendations of the Office of (the) Legislative Auditor. They’ve been pushing back on those.”
Neither Republicans nor Democrats are offering specifics on how to fix the expected funding gap for long-term care and special education.
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