Governor unveils deep budget cuts

On Feb. 15 Gov. Tim Pawlenty unveiled deep cuts he is proposing to make to the state's budget to eliminate a $1.2 billion deficit. The cuts land hard on poor people and cities.

The recommended cuts would affect the health insurance of 20,000 Minnesotans and the human services programs of another 20,000 Minnesotans. Those cuts amount to $347 million.

In addition, there would be painful cuts in local government aid – $250 million in cuts to city and county governments.

Pawlenty admitted the cuts would probably lead to layoffs.

The budget recommendations would also cut higher education by $47 million – including $36 million to the University of Minnesota and $10.5 million to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher said he is disappointed with the cuts to higher education.

“In one breath the governor says he’s committed to creating new, highly educated workers in Minnesota, then with another breath he cuts the programs that create those very jobs,” Dooher said.

Pawlenty also said he would have cut higher education much more deeply but couldn’t, because of limitations set when Minnesota received federal stimulus money for education.

The governor’s budget proposal held true to his pledge to protect military programs, veterans programs, public safety and K-12 education. First analysis of his budget details indicates no cuts to any K-12 programs.

“We’re gratified that the governor is starting to recognize what we and most Minnesotans have been saying for a long time,” Dooher said. “And that is, even in difficult economic times, education must be our top priority, because it is the engine that will return us to economic prosperity.”

However, the governor’s supplemental budget also presumes that the Legislature will agree to make permanent the $2.7 billion in unallotments that Pawlenty made last summer. And there are no plans to repay the $1.2 billion in funding delays to schools.

The state’s next financial forecast comes out in early March, and the Legislature will probably start moving on a budget fix after that.

February 15, 2010