Minnesota Budget Bites

Minnesota Budget Bites is a multi-author blog published by the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits.

National report confirms: Minnesota has more work to do on tax fairness

By Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Bites

A national report confirms what many Minnesotans already know: Minnesota’s tax system does not share the responsibility for funding public services fairly. The Minnesotans with the highest incomes pay the smallest share of their incomes in state and local taxes.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

Governor Dayton's budget proposal, part three: Education

By Caitlin Biegler, Minnesota Budget Bites

An educated Minnesota is critical for the state’s economic success. Governor Dayton’s FY 2014-15 budget proposal demonstrates his vision for education in Minnesota as he invests nearly $600 million in additional resources for E-12 and higher education.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

Just in time for Minnesota's tax debate

By Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Bites

How important is it for Minnesota to reform our tax system? According to an issue brief we recently released, it’s very important and we need to do it now.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

Governor Dayton’s budget proposal part 2: tax reform

By Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Bites

After many years of budget deficits and deep cuts to services, it’s time to instead invest in our communities and our future. We’ve long argued for a tax system that more adequately funds our state’s priorities and is based more on the ability to pay.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

Governor Dayton's budget proposal, part one: Health care reform

By Christina Wessel, Minnesota Budget Bites

The state budget plan released by Gov. Mark Dayton yesterday seeks to end the cycle of deficits and put the state on a firmer financial foundation.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

Our top three list for the 2013 Minnesota Legislative Session

By Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Bites

The 2013 Minnesota Legislature faces some of the most critical issues in generations when it meets for the first time today. Minnesota faces a $1.1 billion shortfall in FY 2014-15 ($2.0 billion when inflation is included) and is suffering from years of deficits, budget gimmicks and quick fixes.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

Most who don't owe federal income taxes are working or elderly

By Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Bites

The question of who is in the “47 percent” still resonates. I found that out when I spoke at a public policy forum held by AccountAbility Minnesota about what’s at stake for Minnesota’s low-income families in the federal and state tax policy debates.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

The state's cycle of budget deficits continues

By Christina Wessel, Minnesota Budget Bites

The state’s cycle of budget deficits continues. That’s the news from this morning’s release of the November 2012 Economic Forecast. The state ended the August special session with a $1.1 billion deficit projected for the FY 2014-15 biennium. And that’s where the number stands in the new forecast. When taking the impact of inflation into account, the deficit is closer to $2.0 billion in FY 2014-15 and $2.1 billion in FY 2016-17.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

Income inequality threatens Minnesota's future

By Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Bites

Income inequalities between Minnesota’s richest and poorest families continue to widen and endanger the state’s future, according to a recent national report.

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Minnesota Budget Bites

Time for Minnesota to move forward on health care reform

By Christina Wessel, Minnesota Budget Bites

With the June Supreme Court decision and 2012 presidential election behind us, it is now clear that the nation’s health reform law – the Affordable Care Act – is here to stay. That’s great news for Minnesotans. Many have already begun to benefit from the law, including young adults who are now able to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26. And many more Minnesotans will be able to access affordable health insurance as other major provisions take effect in 2014.

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Minnesota Budget Bites