Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released its new budget forecast today, projecting a $7.746 billion projected surplus for Fiscal Year 2022-23. This is the largest surplus in state history. It…
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Minnesota last year, the virus and the state government’s response to it wrought havoc with our state’s economy. The unemployment rate rocketed from 3.5 percent…
Did you know? The so-called ‘COVID Relief Bill’ could block Minnesota’s next governor and legislature from cutting taxes: Senate amendments to the American Rescue Plan Act prohibit the use of any of the $350…
Minnesota colleges and universities hit the jackpot with millions of dollars in federal COVID-19 funding flowing into their coffers to offset the financial impact of the pandemic — and then…
At the beginning of 2021, Congress passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package –– namely the American Rescue Plan Act –– which, among other things, expanded the maximum Child Tax Credit (CTC)…
It’s like winning the lottery and tearing up the winning ticket. At least that’s how state officials must view the indifference of hundreds of local governments to the latest federally-funded…
Since the beginning of the pandemic through Sept. 11, state governments have paid out $836 billion in unemployment payments. Minnesota has so far paid out $14.7 billion, with a huge…
Call me skeptical. Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat and former teacher, announced a new Council on Economic Expansion for Minnesota. Economic expansion means business, right? So, the council will be…
A new report reveals U.S. elementary school students were four to five months behind their expected level of academic achievement at the end of the 2020 school year, writes Axios.…
Local government officials meeting by Zoom, under a tight deadline with a mandate to dole out billions of dollars as quickly as possible. What could go wrong? As cities were…
Childcare has been one of the most heavily affected industries by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, providers got a lifelinefrom United States Congress. In Minnesota, most of the funds from the…
Cities get ‘creative’ in a rush to spend federal COVID relief largess.
In an effort to address the housing crisis, the Minneapolis City Council made it legal to build rooming houses. According to the Star Tribune, The City Council last week approved…
In March, I wrote that the so-called “COVID Relief Bill” could block Minnesota’s next governor and legislature from cutting taxes. In May, I followed up, writing that a federal court had…
Earlier today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published employment numbers for June. And according to the data, Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 850,000 in June, and the unemployment…
The spending spree bound to break out with the next round of federal pandemic funding for local governments has officially kicked off in Rochester.
Back in March, I wrote that the so-called ‘COVID Relief Bill’ could block Minnesota’s next governor and legislature from cutting taxes: Senate amendments to the American Rescue Plan Act prohibit the use of any…
From now until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1, Minnesotans can submit public feedback on how the Minnesota Department of Education could use the nearly $124 million of flexible federal…
State and local taxes and spending Star Tribune: Minnesota Legislature faces tough budget talks in week ahead Pioneer Press: Billions in federal stimulus aid will complicate the Legislature’s budget deal-making…
Between the pandemic and the giant riot fence, there haven’t been that many political rallies in St. Paul this year. Saturday over 100 people gathered at the Governor’s Residence to…
Gov. Tim Walz met in person this week with Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman, marking the beginning of the final budget negotiations for…
Legislators returned this week from their Easter/Passover break and things really started moving at the Capitol. The House and Senate rolled out massive spending bills and began moving them through…
On Monday, the commissioners of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Steve Grover, and the Department of Human Services (DHS), Jodi Harpstead, engaged in a roundtable discussion with…
Yesterday (March 18), I wrote about a new study published by the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases that found three feet physical distancing policies in K-12 schools didn’t negatively impact student…