Gov. Mark Dayton unveiled a $59.4 million supplemental budget plan that would fund additional jobs, natural resources and human services programs by closing corporate tax loopholes.
“As I’ve said throughout my term, my priorities are first the people of Minnesota and secondly providing good jobs for all of them. My supplemental budget addresses those two priorities,” Dayton said at a press conference.
The plan includes $43.9 million in new General Fund spending in the current biennium, as well as another $15.5 million from non-General Fund sources. Minnesota Management & Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter said the plan is “self-balancing” and would not draw down the state’s budget reserves or impact current forecasted spending.
Key parts of the proposal include:
- $35 million for a “Jobs Now” tax credit that would pay businesses to hire unemployed workers, recent graduates and veterans (all spending would occur in the next fiscal biennium);
- $6.4 million for medical education research;
- $5.9 million for personal care assistant funding;
- $4.7 million for emergency medical care like dialysis and chemotherapy; and
- $4 million annually to help control the spread of aquatic invasive species.
To pay for the additional spending, the governor is proposing to cut tax credits for Minnesota companies operating overseas, extend the state’s sales tax to online purchases (the so-called “affiliate nexus” provision), and increase hunting and fishing license fees.
Full details of the plan can be found on Minnesota Management & Budget’s website.
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