It’s our surplus, Give It Back!

American Experiment launched the Give It Back campaign today to persuade Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Legislature to return the $7.7 billion state budget surplus to the taxpayers. The Give It Back campaign includes a landing page with information on the surplus and a call to action so Minnesotans can easily craft and send an email or video to the governor and their state representatives.

The campaign will build throughout the session and include billboards, radio ads, digital advertising and email campaigns. American Experiment is also publishing a report on the surplus with details on different options to permanently reduce tax rates. A Give It Back rally is being planned for April on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul.

“Governor Walz and the legislature have a great opportunity to permanently lower tax rates with this historic surplus to make Minnesota more competitive in the years to come,” said John Hinderaker, President of Center of the American Experiment. “The Give It Back campaign will deliver a strong message from Minnesotans to return the surplus to the families and taxpayers who created it in the first place.”

Minnesotans can visit www.GiveItBackMN.com to craft their own email to Gov. Walz and their legislators. A new tool even allows users to create a video message for the governor, telling him in their own words how they would benefit from a tax cut. The web page also provides facts about the state budget surplus.

  • Most of the $7.7 billion surplus is structural — meaning it can be used for permanent tax cuts.
  • State spending is at an all-time high after increases of 8% in 2019 and 5% in 2021, including huge increases to K-12 education each year.
  • The current budget is scheduled to grow another 10% in 2022-23 to $52.3 billion!
  • Minnesota’s tax rates are the sixth highest in the country. In fact, our lowest rate would be the highest rate in 24 states!
  • The state’s savings account ($2.656 billion) is at an all-time high and one of the strongest in the country. 
  • School districts, cities, counties and the state all received (and spent) billions in federal aid for the pandemic.